SHARE CLAIMED

Southland Times, Issue 21851, 31 October 1932, Page 7

SHARE CLAIMED

IRISH FREE STATE UNITED KINGDOM ROAD FUND ARBITRATOR APPOINTED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.20 p.m.) London, October 29. A Write Paper dealing with the recent Anglo-Irish conference reveals that de Valera claimed the Free state was entitled to share in the United Kingdom road fund. The British Government agreed but a dispute has arisen in regard to the apportionment which the Free State claimed was unfair and should be retrospectively revised. The Treasury regarded this aS inadmissable. Both sides agreed to submit to the arbitration of Sir Henry Strakosch. The Free State claimed compensation in respect of loss consequent on Britain abandoning the gold standard. The British reply was that the abandonment involved no loss to the Free State, rather profit. In any case the matter was a domestic one and no claim could be admitted. The Free State claimed recoupment for over taxation since the union and a share of the assets of the former United Kingdom. It is understood the amount involved is £400,000,000. The British reply was that it was impossible to establish any clear proof that Ireland was over taxed since the date of the union up to the present. The Free State sought to avoid payment of the pensions of the Royal Irish Constabulary, civil servants and judges employed in Ireland before the creation of the Free State and argued that the Royal Irish Constabulary was an occupying force, hostile to the national aspirations and Irish people. The British reply was that the question of the Royal Irish Constabulary was settled by the financial agreements of 1923-1926. The Free State took over the function. of the police along with other Governmental responsibilities, consequently the cost of pensions was a normal part thereof which any Government would expect to bear. As regards civil judicial pensions, the general principle was that the various departments were handed over as going concerns with assets and liabilities attached. The Free State claimed a share of the assets of the Post Office, Savings Bank held against dormant accounts and located in the Free State. The British reply was that it was not possible to agree to the transfer of any part of the balances without the consent of the depositors or legal representatives. As regards annuities, the White Paper disclosed nothing new except insistence that the Free State 1923 financial agreement was not submitted to ratification. The British reply was according to recognized practice among the nations. The agreements of 19231926 were binding unless expressly stated to be subject to ratification. No such statement was made in the agreement signed by the Ministers on each side.