CHARGE DENIED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 10

CHARGE DENIED.

Mr Thomas Refutes Mr de Valera’s Allegation. ALWAYS READY TO NEGOTIATE. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received January 14, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. Mr J. H. Thomas, speaking at Newport, denied Mr de Valera's allegation that he had said there would soon be another civil war in Ireland. He added; “ The best evidence that 1 said no such thing is that I was engaging in almost daily conversations with the Free State delegation to discover a basis of settlement. Unfortunately I failed.” Mr Thomas referred to the Free State election speeches suggesting that Britain was not prepared for a serious effort at settlement, because she hoped to secure the return of another Government. He added: “We always are ready to negotiate a settlement with any Government that is piepared to observe its honourable obligations.” Mr de Valera, speaking at Limerick, stated that Mr Seann O’Kelly, Free State representative at the Ottawa Conference, recently told a Dublin audience that Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary for the Dominions) had gleefully said to him while they were at Ottawa; “We need not have any settling with you because you will have another civil war in Ireland within a few months.” Mr Thomas, when interviewed, said: “I will not comment dt present! Obviously the matter is too delicate to discuss until I have read Mr de Valera’s speech in full.