IRISH AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1924, Page 3

IRISH AFFAIRS.

|)E VALERA’S HAPPIEST MOMENTS. [Reutors TF.r.Ki:rams.] (Received this day at 1.30 p.r.i.) LONDON. August 21. Bcplvimr to an .address I rom his constituents in Dundalk. Mr de A a lent said he had never spent a happier time than in prison, because lie was conscious that, lie bad done right and that t jic cause would eventually triumph. He refused to sit in the Bister Parliament or the Dail Eireann. because they were partition Parliaments. 'I he Republican Government would la* willing to give Bister a Parliament with siieh autonomy as was consistent with the unity of the Irish State. lie was cerium that the signatories to the Treaty on both sides intended tlmt there should la* a transferenee of an

Mr d.* Valera expressed the hope, when they were confronted with these problems again in a. year or two. the Irish people would not lie ready to buy a fallacious peace, l-.verv Irishman detested Imperialism and did not wish, in their turn, to dominate or exploit the people of Canada. Australia. New Zealand and South Africa.

Referring to l!)2l negotiations tie Valera said that political association with tht' people of Britain. Canada. Australia. New Zealand and South Africa, towards whom they had no feelings of hostility, was in nowise repugnant to them; but. Iti.xbmen did not want to become involved in Imperialistic wars.