NO AGREEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1932, Page 7

NO AGREEMENT

ANGLO=IRISH NEGOTIATION

MR. DE VALERA NOT MOVED

DRAMATIC END TO MEETING

FINAL TALK ON THE TRAIN

OATH QUESTION REMAINS

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

London, June 10.

The conference on the Irish, oath question between Mr. de Valera and the British Ministers has concluded. No agreement was reached.

The conversations commenced at 11.30 a.m., adjourned at 1.20 p.m., and were resumed after lunch. There was not the slightest indication of the line taken in the discussions. Nobody emerged from the building at lunch time, but there was some change in the plans because previously Mr. de Valera’s intention was to devote the afternoon to sightseeing. In view of the attitude adopted by Mr. de Valera and his Ministers on the Oath of Allegiance Bill now before the Free State Legislature, the failure of the conference caused very little surprise in political circles..

Mr. J. H, Thomas told the Press that the conference had passed off quietly and the questions before them had been discussed with excellent good humour.

The Sun learns that the breakdown was due to Mr. de Valera’s insistence on the right to abolish the oath and Britain’s insistence that it would violate the treaty. The discussions, which never progressed beyond this point, were doomed from the outset, when it was abundantly clear that the viewpoints were poles apart. Britain actually hinted at willingness to submit the annuities problem to an Empire tribunal, but the question was never seriously discussed because the oath deadlock rendered the position hopeless.

OTTAWA POSITION COMPLICATED.

Meanwhile the Ottawa position is complicated. It is understood that Mr. R. B. Bennett, the Canadian Prime Minister, by his pressure was primarily responsible for the Anglo-Irish meeting. Mr. Bennett hoped that the conversations would clear the atmosphere. Crowds at Whitehall, many waving Irish flags, vociferously cheered Mr. de Valera when motoring to the train, where there was a dramatic climax. Mr. J. H. Thomas, sitting in a compartment facing Mr. de Valera, was seen leaning across the table talking and shaking his forefinger, a characteristic gesture, and pleading with Mr. de Valera for ten minutes, but Mr. lie Valera leaned back without speaking, obviously immovable. The guard’s shrill whistle terminated the drama. Mr. Thomas rose, shook hands, stepped on the platform, removed his hat and wiped liis brow with a gesture of desnair.

“ONE OF THE GREATEST HOAXES”

OPINIONS OF BRITISH PRESS.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Mr. de Valera on boarding a mail boat at Liverpool refused to make a statement beyond that he had enjoyed himself. “One always does enjoy a little trip like this,” he added. A political contributor to the Daily Telegraph says the Irish spokesman had the--lions share of the discussion. He had prepared an elaborate brief, the reading of which occupied most of the morning session of the conference. The statement contained no hint of compromise or concession.

The position with regard to the Ottawa conference remains exactly the same, and the British Government has no alternative but to refuse to enter into further agreements with the Irish Free State, the paper comments. Thus there can be no agreement regarding preferences, and Southern Ireland will consequently be placed at a serious disadvantage at Ottawa compared with the other Dominions. The disagreement extended to all points of the oath, annuities and partition of Ireland. The Morning Post’s political correspondent describes the Downing Street conference as one of the greatest hoaxes to which the British Government has been subjected in recent years. The paper understands the utmost length to, which the British Government was prepared to go was the submission of any legal documents regarding which there were differences in interpretation to independent arbitration. The Times says.- “There can be no change in the attitude of the British Government while Mr. de Valera maintains his present standpoint.” Mr. de Valera is expected to make a statement in the Dail, probably on Tuesday.