IRELAND BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27078, 12 May 1949, Page 7

IRELAND BILL

EIRE DAIL INDIGNANT “POLITICAL COWARDICE” BITTER ATTACK ON BRITISH LEGISLATION NZPA—Reuter —Copyright Rec. 9 p.m DUBLIN, May 11. The Eire Dail unanimously adopted yesterday a resolution by the Premier, Mr John Costello, calling on Britain “to end the present occupation of Northern Ireland,” and indignantly protesting against the introduction in the House of Commons of ihe Ireland Bill, giving constitutional and territorial assurances to Northern Ireland. Mr Eamon de Valera, leader of the Opposition in the Dail, seconded the resolution. . The resolution described the British Bill, which will come up for the second reading in the House of Commons this week, as “ purporting to endorse and continue the existing partition of Ireland.” It also calls upon the British Government “to end the present occupation of our six northeastern counties and thereby enable the unity of Ireland to be restored and the age-long differences between the two nations brought to an end.” It also pledges the determination of the Irish people to continue resistance to partition. Fraught with Danger Mr Costello said they resented the claim of the British Parliament to legislate for any part of Ireland. “ I warn them that such an attempt will be fraught with danger and difficulties,” he said. “The position is serious, and deep resentment has been stirred up. We shall take every lawful means in our power to thwart the designs of the so-called democratic Government of Britain. .They have learned nothing from Irish history. British Governments Tory and Labour—will learn nothing from a peaceful and friendly Ireland and will concede nothing to this country unless she becomes a nuisance to them. “ I acquit the- British Prime Minister and some of his colleagues of vindictiveness in introducing this Bill, but I charge and convict them of something more grave than vindictiveness or bigotry—they are guilty of stupidity and political cowardice, and they are using this country as a pawn in their own party political game. “ We are prepared to be on friendly terms with Britain and to give Northern Ireland a fair deal, but we will face the alternative if necessary. We can bring to bear the force of our people in North America, in Britain, and in many other countries to aid us in our work.

“We can hit Britain in her prestige, in her pride, and in her pocket, and every effort we can make we will make if we are faced with this terrible alternative. Great Britain has not many friends in the world to-day. Is she going to discard a friendly isle ready to help? The Irish nation only asks that in this instance Great Britain practises what she preaches,” concluded Mr Costello. Mr de Valera said it looked as i£ some malignant Spirits must be at work stirring up old animosities. He suggested that even at this late hour they might try to get people of influence, such as Commonwealth statesmen, to intervene. Mr de Valera said there was goodwill in Ireland. Why should it not express itself in an effort to find a solution? On Mr de Valera’s suggestion, it was decided to send a copy of the resolution to all countries with which Eire had diplomatic relations. Clause to Stand 'Mr John Dulanty, London representative of the Republic of Ireland,, .called on the Prime Minister, Mr.-.Att-: ilee, the Secretary of Commonwealth; fiMations. Mr Philip Noel-BakeOggm ■tfe Foreign Minister, Mr Eppß ißeyin, to-day, and in each .{tested against the clause in the •Bill providing that Northern will remain part of the United dom. ' ‘ J Reuter says Mr Attlee will make it perfectly clear in the House of Commons to-morrow that there can be no question of withdrawing the clause from the Bill. He will be supported, in his attitude by the Opposition, “Mr Costello’s whirling words m the Dail will only reinforce Northern Ireland’s resolve to stand by her democratic right of self-determination. They will certainly not deflect the British Parliament from upholding that right,” says the Daily Telegraph, which emphasises that the Ireland Bill merely affirms Northern Ireland’s right to continue her present status so long as a majority in the Belfast Parliament supDorts it. The paper adds: “The whole antipartition agitation rests on the empty and, indeed, arrogant pretence that Ireland is a political as well as a geographical unity. The political unity of Ireland ceased only when the Southern Irish chose to disrupt it, and no British Government which supported its coercive restoration on the basis of an all-Ireland Republic would survive for five minutes.”