IRISH FREE STATE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 March 1932, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

DE VALERA’S POLICY

“A UNITED IRELAND.’’

Press Association Electric Telegraph Copyright DUBLIN, Thursday.

Suspension of the Public Safety Act by executive action at the next meeting of the Executive Council was announced by the President, Mr Eamonn De Valera, in an interview. With the impending removal of the oath of allegiance, lie said, the Irish Republican Army would have no reason for existence. It was not thought that the I.R.A. was illegal; at least, it at present was not engaged in illegal action. The oath was a purely domestic matter, and had not called for any refeienee from Britain.

The Government proposed to protect Irish industries, but had not contemplated a revenue tariff. Regarding Imperial preference, he said that the Government was prepared to negotiate trade agreements for mutual preference. It had not been decided whether ho would go to the Ottawa Conference. He hoped eventually to merge the office of Governor-General into that of President of the Irish Republic. It was not intended to make another payment of the land annuities due to Britain. The onus of presenting a case in this direction rested on Britain. The annuities would go to the State, the farmers benefiting as citizens. The Government intended to claim the restoration of the annuities already paid, totalling £30,000,000. Mr De Valera said he hoped that the unnatural boundaries between north and south would be broken down, and that Ireland would Vie united. Asked whether he proposed to renounce the Treaty with Britain, he replied that he was not looking as far as that, but his ultimate object was an Irish Republic.