Ami Tumultous Cheering Eire Becomes The Free Republic Of Old Ireland

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 April 1949, Page 5

Ami Tumultous Cheering Eire Becomes The Free Republic Of Old Ireland

LONDON, April 18 (Hee. 7.50 pm).—Tumultous cheering' rose from thousands of spectators on O’Connell Bridge, in the heart of Dublin, when a 21-gun salute at one minute past midnight brought tlie new State of I'ne Republic of Ireland into being.

Thousands also gathered round the City Hall at Cork for a mid night ceremony. The police warned 500 young men who had assembled yesterday at the Northern Ireland village of Car riekmore, in County Tryone, foi a football match, that they eouh not march in procession. The police dispersed the men with : baton charge and injured severa of them as t'uey were hoisting t Republican flag in a field. At one minute past midnight to night, Eire proclaimed herself an in dependent Republic, severing her cen turies-old ties with the British Crown Reuter's Dublin correspondent say that Republican fervour rose through out the 26 counties. Dublin itself wt full of visitors, and O'Connell Stree became a slowly shuffling .mass o tens of thousands of people, inciud m many holidaymakers Itom Britaii and America. As the last stroke of 12 tonight i the 23n! anniversary of the 1911 Easter Monday rising in Dublin, a 21

gun salute fired from O’Connell Bridge announced that the Republic of Ireland Act had come into force. The salute was followed by a feu de’ joie from a square of troops. MESSAGE FROM KING. His Majesty the King sent the following message to President O’Kelly: “I send my sincere good wishes, being well aware of the neighbourly links which hold the people of the Re--1 public of Ireland in close assoc q|ion I with my subjects of the United King- | dom. I hold in most grate ill memory I the services and sacrifices of the men - and women of your country who rcn- ■ dered gallant ass'stance to our cause in the recent war, and who made a < notable contribution to our victories. ■ 1 pray that ev ry ; ic.-;mg may be ;| with you today and in future." i i President Truman, in a mos-mge to I President O’Kelly, >wit on behalf of the people of the United States, said II “Sincere good wishes for the coni tinned welfare and prosperity of your >| country." ;i A message from Mr. Attlee said: •j “On this significant occasion I send ;

greetings from the British Government and people to the republic, and all good wishes for its progress and prosperity. We have many ties of kinship and common interests and J look forward with complete confidence to the maintenance of a close, cordial friendship between cur two countries." STATE SMA NSIHP PR AIS ED The South African Prime Minister, Dr. Ma'an, in a message to Eire’s Premier, Mr. Costello, we’coming the new republic, pra.sed British and Irish statesmanship for “stiengthening tin. ties of friendship." The message added: “South Africa is gratified, tnat thi relations of the Republic of Ireland with South Africa, as with other member States o the Commonwealth, will continue to be characterised by special ties of understand.ng, friend hip and goodwill which cannot but prove mutually benc 11ciai.’ The “Daily Express" says a Bill is to be rushed through the British Parliament to clear up the position of Eire people wb > want robe citizens of the United Kingdom. Without a sp Act of 1 ' ir'orient, no Eire citizen would be eligible for certain public appointments in Britain, or able to join any of the British aimed st .vices. Other problems, such as extension of Empire preference to Eire remain. It is expected that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference will consider the problems when it meets this week.