STATUS OF EIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23259, 21 July 1945, Page 5

STATUS OF EIRE

Dail Resumes Debate De Valera In Angry Mood By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Conyrlght LONDON. July 19. Mr de Valera was in one of his most angry moods when the debate on his statement that Eire is an in the Dail. Declaring that Eire had not beepinvited to the recent Commonwealtl Conference, he said that Eire was not going to seek invitations. “So long as I occupy the position 1 do.” he said. “I am not going to humiliate this nation by going hat in hand to anyone.” He said that his declaration about Eire as a republic was a declaration of fact—“a fact which has obtained since 1937.” He denied that there was any concealment about it, or that he' had tried to hoodwink the people. Asked why he had not put the word “republic” in his Constitution, he said angrily, “Because I did not want people saying ■You are pretending to have an independent State for the whole of Ireland when you have not.' But we are an independent republic, functioning effectively in this part of Ireland, and this is the whole truth as far as I am concerned. It has not two heads. There is one elected head and no other. Wc use the signature of the head of the group of States with whom we are associated for certain restricted purposes as and when the Government advises, and at no other time.” Element of Confusion Mr de Valera admitted that this led to an element of confusion in the interpretation of Eire's constitutional position. but anyone who attempted to remove it would achieve nothing so far as the freedom and liberty of the 26 counties were concerned. He also made it clear that so long as he Is its leader, Eire will make no sacrifices to meet the sentiments of Ulster to get a united Ireland. Eire's neutrality, he said, was the inevitable consequence of partition. “We want the world to know that no matter what crusade may be started for the freedom of the small nations or for democratic principles, our people will not be asked to go into it so long as the curse of partition continues.” said Mr de Valera. Referring to the Commonwealth. Mr de Valera said: "We want to be friends with Britain. Canada, Australia. New Zealand, and South Africa, but it should be remembered that Eire is not a dominion and that the other Dominions developed from colonies with their constitutions expressing their loyalties. We have not these loyalties. We have not grown up from a colony. We are a mother country and we will accept no less status than that. "It will be said that I am animated by hatred of Britain. It is not true. I have often realised that if some other country had been our neighbour our history would have been the same or worse.” For 30 years, said Mr de Valera, his hope and aim were to see the people of Ireland and Britain living side by side as good neighbours, each respecting the other's rights and co-operating in matters affecting their mutual interests.