NOW, MR. DE VALERA!

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12085, 1 July 1932, Page 5

NOW, MR. DE VALERA!

BRITAIN IMPOSES HEAVY LEVY ON IMPORTS FROM IRELAND. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 30. Mr Stanley Baldwin makes an important announcement in the Commons to-dav regarding measures to recover moneys due from the Free State for annuities. These are being paid to stockholders as guaranteed by the British Government, but in order to safeguard the British taxpayer Cabinet has decided to introduce immediately a Bill to be passed through all stages without delay.

Cabinet on Monday decides the nature of the levy to be made. This may be either in the form of import duties on certain classes of Irish goods for a levy whereby half the purchase price of the imports will be payable to excise, leaving the Irish exporter to recover the amount from the Free State Government.

British Ministerialists expect there will be a speedy dissolution, of the Irish Parliament. President de Valera hoped to make the Oath an issue at the election, but now he will be forced, to test Irish opinion on the- question of annuities.

Last year Britain, bought £23,500,000 worth of food products from the Free State which is 96 per cent, of her total exports. It is unlikely definite procedure will be embodied in the Annuities Bill. Instead the Treasury Bill will be authorised to take any steps it deems proper to recoujj itself for the loss of money due, the Treasury being given power to withdraw Dominion preferences from the Free State or remove Free State imports from the existing free list.

The Government may not immediately put these powers into operation, but may use tlie Act as a bargaining weapon to bring the Free State to heel.