OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18691, 18 July 1932, Page 9

OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

FREE STATE DELEGATION.

ARRIVAL AT QUEBEC,

IN A STATE OF UNCERTAINTY. gi United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. OTTAWA, July 16. Forty-six delegates to the Empire) Economic Conference, which will open *on Thursday, from the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland and Britain reached Ottawa early this morning. “ Ireland intends 'to he free and she will be free,” declared Mr Sean T. O’Kelly, head of the Free State delegation, in an Interview at Quebec. He said the delegation was going to Ottawa in connection with economic questions. It xvas not his object to inject matters of political concern. “ Ireland looks for a larger share oi inter-Empire trade,” said Mr O’Kelly. “We are prepared to approach the conference on a basis of mutual advantage.” Other members of the party were much more Inclined to express themselves freely on the differences between the Free State and Britain and some interest was expressed in the reaction on Canadian public opinion.

“ Even if the oath of allegiance were removed Hie Free State would still be a member of the British Commonwealth,” said Mr O’Kelly. “ The 'Symbol of unity is the King, and the oatti lias nothing whatever to do with Ireland's relations with the other component parts 'of the Empire. We go to the conference with some uncertainty in view of the collapse of the negotiations between Mr De Valera and Mr MacDonald. Our instructions wit* he received at Ottawa however. In any case I feel free to enter into arrangements with the other Dominions respecting trading advantages.”