A TRADE AFFAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 119, 23 May 1932, Page 7

A TRADE AFFAIR

IRELAND AND OTTAWA. BRITAIN CHALLENGED. DUBLIN, May 21. Declaring that the Ottawa Confer encc was primarily a trade affair transcending political considerations, Air. do A T alera’s newspaper, in a loader, challenges Britain to accept Air. J. 11. Thomas’ attitude. Tho newspaper says that Britain cannot afford to ignore Ireland’s annual £50,000,000 of purchases. Those wanting to debar tho Free State’s attendance will be disappointed. More over, the Conference will fail, if economic considerations are subordinated to political prejudices.

STILL HOLDS GOOD IRISH ACCEPTANCE. INVITATION TO OTTAWA. LONDON, May 20. The Irish Free Stato announces that its acceptance of tho Ottawa invitation still holds good. The Government will bo prepared to commence discussion with other Governments when its conference preparations are sufficiently advanced. BRITAIN’S POSITION EXPLAINED BY THOMAS. SANCTITY OF TREATIES. LONDON, May 20. Speaking at the Brighton Empire Shopping Week, the Dominions Secretary, Mr J. H. Thomas, referring to the Irish Free State, said that ho did not want to speak controversially, but it was essential to make tho British position clear. The hope and belief that tho Treaty would open a new era after a long period of bitterness had been justified. Tho last decado had witnessed a marked improvement in politic! relations and a growing friendship and understanding. The Free State had become an equal member of tho Commonwealth, and its representatives had been in tho forefront of a constitutional development resulting in the establishment of a group of nations on a footing of complete equality. If all that work is wasted, it will not be through our fault or wish. I stand by every word of my recent statements regarding our relations with the Free State, in which wo base our position simply on the sanctity of treaties and tho maintenance of agreements. How could we negotiate fresh agreements with the Free State, if existing ones are not observed! Could wo suppose that greater sanctity attached to a treaty made at Ottawa than to one made in London.