IRISH DISPUTE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18264, 6 December 1933, Page 7

IRISH DISPUTE

STATEMENT IN COMMONS THE BRITISH ATTITUDE TREATY STILL STANDS APPEAL FOR FRIENDSHIP (British Official Wireless.) Roc. noon. RUGBY, Doe. 3. In tlio House of Commons to-day Mr J. 11. Thomas road the despatch received from Air Do Valera and the reply which had been sent him. In his despatch Air Do Valera referred to the statement made (by Air Thomas in the House of Commons on November 14 calling attention to the fact that the bills then before the Free .State Parliament conflicted with th(> Anglo-Irish Treaty, and expressing the desire of the British Government to see (lie Irish Free State taking a full share as a member of the commonwealth of her own free will, accepting the responsibilities and, enjoying, the privileges. Air De Valera said the Irish people had never sought membership of the commonwealth. Their association with Great Britain and the commonwealth had never on their side been voluntary. In every generation they had tried to maintain the right to exist as a distinct, and independent nation, and whenever they took British rule they did so only under the pressure of overwhelming material force. The treaty of 11)21 involved no fundamental change in their attitude, and they did not accept it as a final settlement of their relations with Britain, or as giving Britain the right to interfere with their constitutional development. IRISH VIEW REJECTED The Free State Government inferred from Air. Thomas’ statement of November 14 that the British Government now realised the evils of a forced association, and would not treat as a cause of war or other aggressive action a decision of the Irish people to sever connection with the commonwealth. Air. He Valera asked that this attitude be formulated in a direct statement. The reply sent by Mr. Thomas to Mr De Valera, after saying that the British Government could not accept Ins description of the relations between the two countries, recalled its view of the 1921 treaty as set forth in the dispatch of April 9 last year in the following words: ‘•iiis Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom entered into the 1921 settlement with the single desire that it should end the long period of 'bitterness between the two countries, and it is its belief that the settlement brought measures of peace and conteiitmelit which could not have been reached by any other means. Further, as a direct result of that settlement, the Irish Free State has participated in, and contributed to, the notable constitutional developments in the last few years whereby the position of the Dominions as equal members with the United Kingdom of the British commonwealth of nations under the Crown has been defined and made, clear to the world.” TREATY WAS RATIFIED The reply goes on to point out that flic treaty settlement was duly accepted by the elected representatives of the people of the Irish Free State, and its acceptance was subsequently confirmed at the Free State general elections. The period which elapsed between 1921 and 1933 was marked by progressive developments of friendly" relations and cooperation between the two countries. “Since the Government of the- United Kingdom is thus unable to accept the assumption that a lasting friendship cannot be attained on the basis of the present relationship, it does not see any grounds for answering a question which is founded on that assumption. It cannot believe that the Irish Free State Government contemplates a final repudiation of the treaty obligation in the manner suggested. Consequently, it does not feel called upon to say what attitude it will adopt in circumstances which it regards as purely hypothetical. “Ills Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom feels that the free in* tercourso ou equal terms with other members of the British commonwealth, which the Irish Free State enjoyed under the treaty settlement, culminating in the Statute of Westminster, is the surest proof of their freedom to work out their own destiny within the commonwealth. We believe that tlio natural associations between the two countries are such that close and friendly relationship between them is essential to their full prosperity, and I would once again emphasise that His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom is, and always has been, most sincerely anxious to work in friendly co-operation with the Irish Free State as members of tho British commonwealth.” PRIVILEGE OF CITIZENSHIP Replying to Mr. C. Lansbury, Air. Thomas emphasised that as the dispute arose through tho repudiation bv tho Free State of the obligations of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, it was a matter between the two countries. He did not wish to bring any other Dominion into it. The British Government’s desire and intention was not to close any door to an. honorable settlement. Prior to reading the dispatches, Mr. Thomas had been asked if he would bring to the notice of tho Irish Free State citizens, both in the United Kingdom and the Free State, the loss they would suffer, both in status and in the way of entering the United Kingdom, Ifrom the declaration of the Irish Free State as a republic. The Minster replied : “No, sir, I do not feel that any steps such as those indicated are necessary. Tho contingency has not arisen, and T hope never will arise. Fuither. the advantages enjoyed bv British subjects, as compared with aliens in this country, are sufficiently well known and appreciated.’’