WHAT IRELAND'S STATUS WILL BE AS A REPUBLIC IS A MYSTERY

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1948, Page 5

WHAT IRELAND'S STATUS WILL BE AS A REPUBLIC IS A MYSTERY

Situation Without Precedent In International Law Has Arisen

LONDON, Nov. 25 (Rec. fi pm).—What Eire’s exact status in the Commonwealth will be after she becomes a republic remains a diplomatic riddle, says Reuter’s political correspcndent.

The statement in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee), according to political quarters, has created an unparalleled constitutional situation which presumably may continue indefinitely. The problem will arise only in the event of a claim by a foreign country for privileges equal to those Eire will continue to enjoy. Sir H. O’Neill, on behalf of Northern Ireland, today lodged an emphatic protest against the decision to call the State of Southern Ireland the Republic of Ireland. He said Northern Ireland was part of Ireland, and Northern Ireland was not a republic and always intended to remain part of the United Kingdom. Speaking in the Dail, Captain Cowan, Eire M.P., said. "The only way to solve the partition is by marching across the border. The only way to end it is by force. If the young of this country get together they will end the partition very quickly.’ r NOT FOREIGN COUNTRY The British Government did not regard Eire’s Repeal Bill as placing Lick in the category of a foreign country or Eire citizens in the category of foreigners, said Mr. Attlee in the House of Commons. The British Government regretted that Eire would not be a member of the Commonwealth any longer, but Eire desired the especially close relationship between Eire and Commonwealth countries to be maintained.

The position of Eire citizens in Britain would be governed by the British Nationality Act, and Eire would introduce legislation so that citizens of Commonwealth countries in Eire received comparable treatment. Mr. Cnurchill said the Government was acquiescing in arrangements which left the southern Irish in full enjoyment of any advantages of being connected with the British Empire and the Commonwealth, without any reciprocal obligations. WARTIME SET-UP

"The External Relations Act did not prevent Mr. de Va.era’s Government from having Ministers in Berlin and Rome and German and Italian Ministers in Dublin,” he added. “I think there is no doubt that he only retained use of the symbol of the Crown for matters of domestic and local convenience.”

Mr. Churchill continued: “The severance of this Link implies no real material change in the position which has been accepted and endured in the last ten years. The Opposition in no | way associates itself with this action, j Now that Southern Ireland separates it?elf altogether from the Crown, the maintenance of Northern Ireland’s] position becomes all the more obligatory upon L's- ’ The Liberal leader, Mr. Clement Davies, supported Mr. Churchill’s statement. Mr. Attlee, replying to Mr. Churchill, said there was no change in Northern Ireland’s constitutional position, nor a need for immediate legislation. The alternative to the Government’s policy would be to have treated Eire as a foreign country and to have broken off relations. “Unless Mr. Churchill was prepared to put forward a policy better than the one which after careful consideration with other members of the

Commonwealth we nut forward, he might have accepted this with a better grace.” “PROFOUNDLY DISTURBED” After Viscount Jowitt made a similar statement in the House of Lords to that made by Mr. Attlee, Lord Salisbury said: “I am profoundly disturbed by the nature of the settlement | reached. It will inflict injury on the [ whole structure of the CommonI wealth.” I In Belfast today, the Prime Minis--1 ter, Sir Basil Brooke, said that Mr. ’ Attlee had assured him that the cre- ; ation of the Republic of Eire would ; have no effect on the constitutional . position of Northern Ireland as an ini' tegral part of the United Kingdom. i The Associated Press Pretoria correi spondent reports that a South African statement said that South Africa • welcomed the fact that in the pro- • clamation of Eire as an independent , republic there would be no estrangement between the two countries. The statement added, that South Africa was ready to recognise the republic when it came into being, and would make concessions regarding rights of citizenship on a reciprocal basis, on an understanding that the existing position was maintained in the meantime. ; Mr. Attlee’s statement in the House ; of Commons yesterday on relations I with Eire indicates that a situation | wholly without precedent in international law will come into existence I when the Republic of Ireland Bill is i put into force, says the “Daily I Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondI ent. Eire will not be a member of I the Commonwealth; nor will she be a foreign country. Her situation with respect to the United Kingdom and I other Commonwealth countries defies i definition. i Beyond possible minor amendments tto the British Nationality Act no legislative action is contemplated by the British Government, but a new situation would be created if this novel relationship were challenged in the international field. The possibility of such a development may be raised in the Commons today by Professor Sovary, Ulster unionist member for Belfast University, but it is unlikely the Government will be committed to any statement on a hypothetical situation.