FREE STATE SUPPORT LEAGUE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20284, 6 December 1935, Page 11

FREE STATE SUPPORT LEAGUE

DEFENCE OF SMALL 1 NATIONS MR DE VALERA’S BOLD DEFENCE FEARS FOR DOWNFALL OF ITALY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 5, 6.35 p.m.) ; DUBLIN, December 4. The Fianna Fail Convention heavily defeated a resolution that the Free State should withdraw from the League of Nations, unless it recognised Ireland’s independence. Mr de Valera explained that the League at the moment probably could not attend to the questions of Ireland’s relations with England. The Free State could go to the League of Nations, only if peace was threatened, otherwise the League would become a court in which all sorts of questions were brought up. “Nevertheless membership of the League does not prevent our working here in unity and independence. Why did Italy transgress the Covenant? Britain had not transgressed her obligations in this matter. There had been manoeuvring between the Powers which made nauseating reading. It would, however, require the strength of all the small nations within the League to achieve a peace which would respect Abyssinian independence. Expressing the opinion that sanctions would smash Italy, Mr Eoin O’Mahoney said that Signor Mussolini was the sole bulwark against Communism. If he went, the Pope would have to go too. It was their duty to offer the Pope a home in Ireland, until Italy regained her feet.