RIGHT TO SECEDE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 939, 8 December 1933, Page 7

RIGHT TO SECEDE.

Mr de Valera Addresses Crowded Senate. " BRITISH GOVERNMENT RAN." United Press Assn. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received December S. 2.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 7. Mr de Valera secured the profound attention of the crowded Senate when, after an extensive deliverance upon the report of the Imperial Economic Consultation Committee, the report was approved without division. Senator Connolly moved the approval of the report, which, according to Senator Milrov, marked the complete incorporation of the Imperial idea in the Fianna Fail philosophy, signifying either a fresh stage in “ The Rake’s Progress,” or the evolution of a superman. Ireland, said Senator Milrov. could not walk in the Commonwealth on one leg and walk out of it with the other, nor could she go in opposite directions simultaneously. Senator Dowdall discounted Senator Milrov’s remarks and asserted that the Free State’s co-operation was purely voluntary. Senator Douglas considered that the Free State would be happier as a member of the Empire than otherwise, but every member had the right to secede if he desired. It would be foolish for Ireland to do so, but if the majority declared for a Republic all must be loyal to it. Mr de Valera said that the co-opera-tion indicated by the report was based on the absolute equality of parties and their freedom to enter or leave the Alliance. Ireland, if such a step would be advantageous, was prepared to cooperate on similar lines to Denmark, Holland, France or any other country, but she was a free agent to co-operate, or secede. “ The British Government ran away from my last despatch,” he said. “ They have baulked every time the question has been put straight to them. It is almost incomprehensible that a British Minister could speak as Lord ITailsham spoke. He was guilty of the very type of interference with our constitutional development to which the despatch referred. The people of the Free State will not tolerate it.. Either he forgets the Statute of Westminster, or the Statute is a fraud on the Dominions.”