SEVERED LINKS

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19123, 7 December 1933, Page 7

SEVERED LINKS

PRIVY COUNCIL BAN. IS LEGISLATION VALID. DISCUSSION BY PEERS. (Official wireless.) (Received Dec. 7, 11.30 a.m-) RUGBY, Dec. 6. The Irish question was raised In the House of Lords by Lord Danesfort who asked what action was to be taken to proteot the undoubted rights of British subjects to appeal to the Privy Council. He declared that recent Irish Free State legislation, forbidding such appeal wa9 a breach of the treaty. Lord Carson who is in poor health and now rarely attends the House of Lords, received a sympathetic hearing. He said the oath had gone; other promised safeguards had been abolished from time to time, and now the last remaining safeguard—appeal to the Privy Council had gone. He urged the Government to reconsider the whole question. Lord Hailsham, (Cabinet Minister), in replying, said the debate was rendered important by the intervention of Lord Carson to whom lie paid a warm tribute. It was an unenviable position for any member of the Government to reply to criticisms which he could only say were undoubtedly justified with regard to a series of actions which he could make no attempt to defend. The Government had consistently taken the view that under the terms of what was called the Irish Treaty, it was not competent for the Free State Government without the refutation of honourable obligations and disregard of torms to whioh it had sot Its signature unilaterally to abrogate the right of petition for special leave to appeal to Hls Majesty in the Privy Council. There had been a long series of legal decisions which laid it down that the right of a subject to petition His Majesty for special leave to appeal could not be taken away by an enactment by the legislature of a Dominion without the express authority of an Imperial statute. As the validity and effect of the IFree State Statute might be raised for judicial determination by the Privy Council it would be improper for him to suggest that he had even an opinion about It. In the absence of a decision to the contrary, the Government did not propose to recognise any action taken in a breach of treaty rights. He believed there were in the Free 'State a very large number of people who, full of Irish honour, were .anxious to see the obligations undertaken by them observed. The British Government profoundly regretted any divergence of opinion between the Government of the Free State and their own or any of the interests between the two countries. The interests of both would be best served by the closest association.

DUBLIN DISAPPOINTED. SETTLEMENT NOT ADVANCED. MR DE VALERA’S QUANDARY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Deo. 7, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 6. A message from Dublin states that everyone is most disappointed that the correspondence between Mr Da Valera and Mr J. 11. Thomas has not advanced a settlement, which it is felt is long overdue. A continuance .of uncertainty will only result in bankruptcy and chaos. It is considered that Mr De Valera must shortly face the electors on the Republican issue, in order to retain his power. CHASING A CHIMERA. WHAT WOULD IRELAND DO? DE VALERA QUESTIONED. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Dec. 7, 12.30 p.m.) PARIS, Dec. 6. Replying to a direct question of the Petit Parisien’s special correspondent as to what Ireland would do if given a chance of independence, Air De Valera after a long reflection said: “We would have to negotiate with Britain du the problems raised by separation and also have a general election. “Let Britain recognise our right to liberty, and there will be nothing but harmony and peace between us.” MR DE VALERA CONFOUNDED. BRITAIN’S ADROIT REPLY. PLIGHT OF FREE STATE. Untied Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Dec. (I. The opinion is expressed in Parliamentary circles that the Government’s reply to Mr Do Valera was adroit and characterised by moderation and good sense, particularly in refusing io be drawn into a hypothetical discussion. The Daily Telegraph's Dublin correspondent says: “Had Mr Thomas .declared that Britain would meet Hie establishment of a Republic with aggressive action Mr De Valera would j have appealed lo Die country and lire I election might well have gone in his I favour. A high authority assures me, however, Rial a general election now is unlikely.” The 'l'inies remarks: “While Mr I.)s Valera is still balancing one leg within the Empire and one outside it, his l country bleeds In deatli economically, i The Free gtale lives on—a hypolheij ioa| Republic. Her people's citizenship of the Empire also is hypotheti- | ical. Tile only lbins that is not hypothetical is liie collapse of Ireland's I trade and the certainly of an icnrea.se I

in taxation, which leads to doubts whether Hie Free Statr will return Mr De Valera when lie risks a general election.” DUBLIN. Dec. G. Mr De Valera, in replying to a deputation that protested against. Die sentences passed to the 12 Republicans who attacked General n’DulTy al Tralee, said the Free State was in the midst of a grave crisis due In another country's aggression. Every ad of disorder incited Hie aggressors and tended to discredit the Free state abroad.