“A FREE AGENT”

Southland Times, Issue 22194, 9 December 1933, Page 7

“A FREE AGENT”

IRELAND’S POSITION RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN i SENATE DISCUSSION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) London, December 7. Mr de Valera secured the profound attention of a crowded Senate when,after an extensive deliverance on its contents, the report of the Imperial Economic Consultation Committee was approved without a division. Mr J. Connolly (Minister of Lands) moved approval of the report, which, according to Mr Sean Milroy, marked the complete incorporation of tire Imperial idea in the Fianna Fail philosophy, signifying either a fresh stage in the “rake’s progress” or the evolution of a superman. Ireland, he said, could not walk into the Commonwealth with one leg and walk out with the other, nor go in opposite directions simultaneously. Mr J. C. Dowdall discounted Mr Milroy’s remarks. He asserted that the Free State’s co-operation was purely voluntary. Mr J. G. Douglas said he considered that the Free State would be happier as a member of the Empire than otherwise, but every member had the right to secede if it so desired. It would be foolish of Ireland to do so, but if a majority declared for. a republic all must be loyal to it. Mr de Valera said the co-operation indicated by the report was based on the absolute equality of the parties and their freedom to enter or leave the alliance. Ireland, if such a step was advantageous, was prepared to cooperate on similar lines with Denmark Holland, France, or any other country, but she was a free agent to co-operate or to secede. “The British Government,” he said, “ran away from my last despatch and baulked us every time a question was put straight to it. It is almost incomprehensive that a British Minister would speak as Lord Hailsham spoke. He was guilty of that very type of interference in our constitutional development to which the despatch referred. The people of the Free State will not tolerate it. Either he forgets the Statute of Westminster or the statute is a fraud on the dominions.”