“TO IRISH REPUBLIC”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 June 1933, Page 5

“TO IRISH REPUBLIC”

ASTONISHING INCIDENT. LONDON, Friday. The Cork correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that an astonishing incident signalised the reception of Mr Cordell Hull, head of the United States delegation to the World Conference, when he was publicly welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Cork and others. Mr Hull said: “People of the Irish republic, I greet you on behalf of the oldest republic of the west. I greet the newest republic, and it is only fitting that the new republic and the old should meet.” t Mr Hull went on to say that the American people could not in a thousand years repay its debt to the Irish race. He raised his glass to “The Health of the President? of the Irish Republic. ’ ’ Mr Aiken, the Irish Minister of Defence, responded. Mr Hull has since explained that his speech had no diplomatic or political significance. He realised that the slip might create an unfortunate incident, and made a vain attempt to prevent his remarks being.reported. It is explained, on his behalf, that the word republic was used in the confusion of the moment. Mr Hull received' the Lord Mayor in the saloon of the liner President Roosevelt at Queenstown, en route to Plymouth, STATEMENT EY MR HULL. (Received Saturday, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Friday. Mr Cordell Hull, questioned by forty American and British Pressmen in reference to the reported use of the term, “Irish Republic,” at Cork, said that he had been conferring for months with Irish Free State representatives. He regretted that some people failed to rise to the level of a great occasion, but sought to divert attention by little side considerations. 1-Ie refused to discuss war debts on the grounds that they were not included in the conference agenda.