FREE STATE & EMPIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18660, 11 June 1932, Page 5

FREE STATE & EMPIRE.

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED.

DOOMED FROM THE OUTSET.

NO AGREEMENT REACHED.

MR DE VALERA ADAMANT.

VIEWS POLES APART.

United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received June 11, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, June 10. The Irish Conference has con* eluded. No'agreement was reached. The conversations commenced at 11-30 a.m., adjourned at 1.20 and resumed after lunch.

There is not the slightest indication of tlie line taken in the discussions. Nobody emerged from the building at lunch time, hut there was ■some change of plans because previously Mr De Valera’s intention had been to devote the afternoon to sightseeing. The Sun learns that a breakdown in the Irish negotiations was due to Mr De Valera’s insistence on the right to abolish tlie oath and Britain’s insistence that it would violate the treaty. The discussions, which have never progressed beyond this point, were doomed from the outset. ■ When it was abundantly clear that the respective views were poles apart Britain actually hinted her willingness i to submit the annuities question tof an Empire tribunal, hut the question! was never seriously discussed, be-j cause the oath deadlock rendered thej position hopeless. Meanwhile, the position regarding Ottawa Is complicated. It Is understood Mr R. B. Bennett’s, the Canadian Prime Minister, pressure was primarily responsible for the Anglo-Irish meeting as Mr Bennett hoped conversations would clear the atmosphere. / Crowds at Whitehall, many waving Irish flags, vociferously cheered. Mr De Valera when motoring to the train yvhere there was a dramatio. climax. Mr Thomas, sitting an the compartment facing Mr De Valera was seen leaning across the table talking and. shaking a forefinger (a characteristic gesture of tlie Minister when pleading) for ten minutes. Mr De Valera! silently leant back without speaking, being obviously immovable. The guard’s shrill whistle terminated the drama, and Mr Thomas rose, shook hands, stepped on to the platform, removed his hat and wiped his brow with a gesture of despair.

PASSED OFF QUIETLY. NO SURPRISE AT RESULT. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright* (Received June 11, 11.30 a.m. ) RUGBY, June 10. In view of the attitude adopted by Mr De Valera and his Ministers on the * Oath Allegiance Bill now before the Free State Legislature, the failure of the conference caused very little surprise in political circles here. Mr Thomas told the press'that the conference had passed off quietly and the questions before them had been discussed with excellent good humour.j