IRELAND AND THE OATH

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 242, 13 May 1933, Page 5

IRELAND AND THE OATH

Effect of Free State Bill ABROGATION OF TREATY Anxiety Regarding Position Press Association. —Copyright. London, May 11. Lord Danesfort, seeking in the House of Lords an announcement of the exact effect of the passage of the Removal of the Oath Act in the Irish Dail, said this was important to the people of the whole Empire as the passage of the Act did more than remove the oath; it practically abrogated the treaty. If the Act was valid the Free State no longer existed as a Dominion. What would become of the constitution? Loyalists and others in the Free State were deeply anxious about the position. Lord Elibank said some people in the Free State claimed that King George was a foreign king, and in that event Irish people living in Britain must be foreigners. '"Southern Ireland behaving in such a way makes it difficult to l-ctain patience." he continued. "The time has come when we ought definitely to say to the Free State what we think of her attitude."

Lord Parmoor appealed that nothing should be done to increase friction. The Dominion spirit should be encouraged and not discouraged. There was no question of abrogation of the treaty. Lord Hailsham after reading Mr. J. H. Thomas' statement given in the House of Commons on Mav 4 added that the Dail's Act had no effect on the treaty or the riehts of British citizens born in the Free State or on Article Seven, providing for facilities in the Free State for Hi* Maesty's forces.

"The reason is that by the treaty bargain between Britain and the Free State neither party by unilateral action can niter the terms of the bargain," said Lord Hailsham. "Any attempt by one party to alter the bargain has no legal or international effect. Every citizen born in the Free State is born within the King's allegiance. Nobody so born can get rid of the obligations allegiance involves. "If circumstances did arise whereby the Free State ceased to be a part of the Empire serious questions would arise concerning the status of Free State citizens in Britain, but that is hypothetical. I have no hesitation in saying that the treaty between the two nations cannot be altered without the consent of both." The Marquis of Salisbury said the attitude of the Free State was an offence not only against Britain but also against the whole Empire. The Free State should be told it had the profound disapproval of every other Dominion. Lord Danesfort said Lord Hailsham's statement would allay great anxiety in the Free State and would go far towards wise reflective opinion throughout the Empire.

SOVIET MOVE

Irish Communist Party Press Association —Onpy«erht London, May 11. The Soviot is about to create an independent Irish Communist party, according to the Riga correspondent of the Times, whereanent a congress will assemble in Ireland on May 27 to unite the revolutionary Labour groups into a section of the Communist Internationale implicitly obeying Moscow, recruiting the poorest of farm labourers and unemployed, undermining President de Valeraa and spreading anti-religious and antiBritish propaganda in preparation for an all-Ireland Soviet republic.

UPROAR IN DAIL

"Give. Us Back Our Markets" FREE STATE BUDGET PASSED Press Association. —Copyright. Received Today Noon. Dublin, May 12. An uproar culminating in an Opposition shout of "Give us _ back our markets, you have taken five million pounds from us," marked the Budget debate in the Dail. Mr. Dillon cited the increased unemployment, and shocking housing conditions. The Budget, was passed by 73 votes to 53.