IRISH AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 20

IRISH AFFAIRS

MR DE VALERA. LONDON, July 22. Mr de Valera was welcomed by 5000 persons at the Dublin Mansion House. Another 5000 outside declared that they could take the oath of allegiance only to the Republic. The real rebels were those who were against the Republic. July 22. In addressing his followers at the Dublin Mansion House, who met to welcome his release, Mr de Valera said he had been defeated from the military point of view, but he had gained a political victory which had left the nation free. No agreement bound them to bow the knee to a foreign Power. He exhorted them to love one another in Ireland like little children. There was no glory in civil war. Mr Austin Stack prophesied that the next election would be for 32, and not for 26, counties. THE IRISH BOUNDARY. LONDON, July 22. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, consisting .of Lord Dunedin and Lord Blanesburgh, Mr Justice Duff (Canada), Sir Adrian Knox (Australia), and Sir Lawrence Jenkins (India), has begun hearing the Irish boundary question. Sir Patrick Hastings (Attorney-General) is representing the Government’s case, and Sir Douglas Hogg Northern Ireland’s. The Free State is not represented. July 23. The Privy Council has concluded the boundary hearing. Lord Dunedin announced that the advice to be tendered to the Crown would be confidential. It would rest with the Crown whether it was disclosed. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council heard the arguments of counsel to determine whether the Crown can instruct the Governor-General of Northern Ireland to appoint a member of the Irish Boundary Commission in view of the refusal of the Government of Northern Ireland to do so. The committee announced that it had reserved its decision, and would communicate advice privately to the King. ART. O BRIEN RELEASED. LONDON, July 23. Tho Sinn Feiners, Art. O’Brien and Sean M'Grath, have been released after having served half of their sentences. IRISH FREE STATE. WASHINGTON, July 24, Under an agreement with the British Embassy, the State Department has made public the correspondence between Mr C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State) and Sir Esme Howard (British Ambassador), in June, providing for the appointment at Washington of a Minister to represent the Irish Free State. In a communication of June 24, requesting such representation, since His Majesty's Government had concluded that it was desirable, Sir Esme Howard said that such an ambassador would be accredited by the King to the President, and would be furnished with credentials enabling him to take charge of all affairs relating to the Free State exclusively. The arrangements proposed by tils Majesty denoted no departure from the principle of the diplomatic unity of the Empire. The Irish Minister would at all times be in touch with His Majesty’s Ambassador, in order to settle by consultation whether any matter came within the category of those to be handled by the Irish Minister. In matters falling in his sphere the Irish Minister would not be subjected to the control of His Majesty's Ambassador, nor would the latter be responsible for the Irish Minister’s action.