IMMEDIATE PEACE IS URGENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19308, 8 October 1932, Page 17

IMMEDIATE PEACE IS URGENT

PLIGHT OF FREE STATE FARMERS LOSS OF BRITISH MARKETS United Press Association—Bv Electric T elegraph—Copyright (Received October 7, 7.45 p.m.) DUBLIN. October 7. The Dublin correspondent of “The Times" says: “The need of immediate peace is urgent, so the cattlemen say. The Free State's export bounty of 12i per cent, has not assisted trade. Business is slacker than last week The British have found new sources of supply, and are not likely to readily return to the Free State. Something may be saved from the wreck, if there is an early settlement, but a tariff truce is necessary to enable farmers to capture the British Christmas trade. GRAVE FEARS OF COLLAPSE. REASON FOR MODIFICATION OF IRISH ATTITUDE United Pre«« Association—By Electrla Tel egraph —Copyright (Received October 7, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 6. The Dublin correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” says: “Mr de Valera’s sudden reversal of policy, is due to the fear that the Free State will suffer a complete collapse, owing to the effect of the British duties, which brought the Irish export trade to a standstill. Negotiations for a settlement have been devoted less to the legal problems of the annuities, than to the ability of Ireland to pay them. The Irish negotiators believe the British negotiators are eager for the restoration of normal trade, and will not be unsympathetic to the Free State appeal on this point. It is expected that Mr Macdonald will take part in the negotiations after the conference has arrived at some understanding regarding the lines on which the negotiations are to proceed. This may be adjourned until the British and'Free State Parliaments meet on October 18. HOPES OF SETTLEMENT. ANGLO-IRISH NEGOTIATIONS RESUMING. British Official Wireless RUGBY, October 6. On his return from conversations in London with British Ministers, Mr de Valera arrived at Dublin this morning. He said, in an interview, that agreement to negotiate with Britain on the financial dispute between the two Governments was only the initial step, and he would venture no opinion on the prospects of the discussions. It is understood that Mr de Valera will be the principal Free State delegate at next week’s formal negotiations, and on the British side it is anticipated that the Prime Minister, who is due to return from Scotland in a few days, will take a direct part in the discussions.

Others British Ministers, in addition to Mr Thomas, will participate. While the negotiations are in progress, the duties imposed by Britain on imports from the Free State, and the counter duties placed by the Free State on British imports will remain in force.

The overdue land annuities, which represent some £2,960,000 of a total sum of £5,000,000, which is the amount in dispute, is now stated to be held in a suspense account in Dublin. Both the Free State Dail and the British House of Commons are due to reassemble on October 18. If negotiations result in an agreement it is understood that it will be laid without delay before both Parliaments for ratification.