NO HATRED

Wairarapa Age, 15 April 1935, Page 5

NO HATRED

DE VALERA AND ENGLAND. SUGGESTED PLEBISCITE. FREE EXPRESSION WANTED. (Received Sunday, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 13. The suggestion for a plebiscite was made on the spur of the moment, in reply to an assertion that hatred of England was the dominating influence in Irish politics, said Mr. de Valera in an interview to the “Dispatch.” “The Irish neither hate their neighbours nor hate each other,” said Mr. de Valera. “The allegation that I hate England is untrue. I hate no nation. On the contrary my ambition is to see the nations peacefully co-operating.” He added: “My considered opinion is that a plebiscite will have to be a genuinely free expression of the people’s will throughout Ireland, or the understanding that the verdict is applicable to all Ireland.” Mr. de Valera, questioned regarding the position if the verdict favoured an all Ireland dominion, replied that it would create an entirely new situation, abolishing the complaint that the AngloIrish relationship was forcefully maintained. Our membership of the British Commonwealth would then be voluntary but a section of the people would still flrmly believe that complete independence was the only status compatible with national aspirations. Although Mr. de Valera and his ministers believe that the plebiscite would result in an overwhelming victory for Republicanism opponents are of opinion that Britain would be wise to accept the challenge, as a plebiscite either in the Free State or throughout Ireland would show a majority for those wishing to remain in the Empire. ALIENS ACT. BRITISH SUBJECTS EXEMPTED. DUBLIN, April 13. The Citizenship and Aliens Act was signed by the Government. Simultaneously the Government announced the exemption of subjects of the British commonwealth of nations from the restrictions of the Aliens Act.