DE VALERA FIRM

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1932, Page 5

DE VALERA FIRM

OATH ABOLITION IMPOSING OF CONSCIENCE TEST. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, April 8. President Pe Valera has acknowledged General Hertzog, South African Premier’s message. Mr De Valera expressed the hope that nothing would be done to disturb the 'lrish Free State and South Africa’s relations, and also that goodwill and a good understanding will be maintained in the solution of the differences between Britain and lieJand. ;Mr De Valera repeated that Ireland refused to acknowledge that any conntry had the right to insist upon the •imposing of a conscience test on the members of the Dail ’Eirann, the Parliament of the Free State, Britain’s reply to President De Valera was dispatched to-night to Dublin. ... |phe “Sun” understands that wmle Britain is anxious to keep the door open, the Note of the Government is in emphatic terms, and that it virtually tells President De Valera that persistence in his Government’s attitude threatens the Free 'State with leaving the Empire, and thereby automatically alienating Irish citizens from the Empire throughout the world, Thu Cabinet unanimously agreed to the Note, which w the reply to President De Valera’s reply to Britain’s initial dispatch. President De Valera’s reply reaffirmed the Irish Free State’s intention to abolish the Oath, and to repudiate land annuities. n The “Sun” adds that President De Yaiera is' not 'willing to compromise. He is. preparing for the Free State s complete independence, which will mean ranking Irish nationals individually as foreigners in the Empire.

N.Z. BEQUEST TO FREE 'STATE-

ASSOCIATION WITH EMPIRE

WELLINGTON. April 9. The following is the text of a message that was addressed by the Government of New Zealand to the Minister of External Affairs (President De Valera) of the Irish Free State, Dublin, on .April 4 : —“in connection, with the constitutional position’ of the Irish Free State, His Majesty's Government in New Zealand 'have observed with

- deep regret and real apprehension the j position that appeal's to have arisen in respect of the constitutional position of the Irish Free State. They have -hesitated to address themselves on the subject to 'His Majesty’s Government jn the Irish Free State, but, in view of recent developments, they felt » duo as much to that Government as to themselves to express, in the friendliest manner, their views and hopes, In doing -so they desired to take most meticulous care not to overstep the bound,* -that, normally and properly, restrain one partner in the British Commonwealth in commenting on the affairs of' another, but they are confl--y> dent that their object will not be misH understood,' and -that the goodwill that ' animates this friendly expression ot their views will ensure its friendly re-

ception. -His Majesty's Government m New Zealand cannot too strongly emphasise the warmth of the regard in which Irishmen of all classes and creeds are held in this Dominion, or the very value which the Government and the people of New Zealand attach to the association of the Irish Free State with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions as an equal partner in the British Commonwealth. The relations between His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand and His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State have invariably been of the most cordial description, and have afforded a happy augury for the continuance of fruitful and equally cordial co-operation between the Irish Free State and all the other members of the British Commonwealth. The severe economic difficulties through which the world is now passing seem to indicate the extreme desirability, particularly at this tune of maintaining the- solidarity of the British Commonwealth and in the opinion of His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand, it would be calamitous if the forthcoming Imperial Conference at Ottawa, which offers hopes for our common welfare perhaps more promising -thnn ever before, should he unable to”avail itself of the collaboration of that Commonwealth. His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand have felt, and still feel, that the principles embodied in the Statute of Westminster (which New Zealand (, accepted, despite the strongest objeet- ' ion, solely to meet the views of the other Dominions differently s'tuated), offer in all essentials a complete guarantee for the future autonomy and equality of all the Governments of the British Commonwealth. It is their most earnest, hope that His Majesty s Government in the Ini') Free Stale will not feel themselves obliged -to take ■any step which might prejudice the continued at ;ociaf.ion of the Irish Free .State as an equal partner in the Commonwealth.”

IRISH PRESIDENT IN RHPLY. RELATIONS WITH .«RITA IN. WETBfNGTON. April 9. In reply to the message of April 4 the Irish' Free State the New Zealand Government has received from Presi-

dent Dc Valera the following reply, dated the 7th of April :—“I fully appreciate /the very friendly > motives whioh have inspired your telegram of the 4th of April, and I am very glad to have the opportunity to assure you that the Government and the people of tho Irish Free State have the most friendly feeling towards the Government and the people of New Zealand. Our people, conscious of the. right of the Irish Free State as a distinct and separate nation, have declared their will that the conscience test imposed by Great Britain on our represmlaiives in Parliament should be removed. IL is our duty, as their Government, to give effect to their will, and to secure the immediate elimination ol that test. We intend, for that purpose, to use our fully-recognised right to amend our ('o instil ut.ion as tire people* desire. We do not consider that the Government of Great. Britain have any right to regard our, intended action as a cause for a quarrel. On the contrary, 'the removal of this, and other, barriers to friends,hi]) created by Great Britain must result, in the osta l.| i:bment of flew > good relations which you desire, as we do, to se«* cstebl she 1 between the people ul these tv*o islands. 'Sign (I) Kamon He Valera, Alims! r for External Affairs.'