IRISH OATH BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1932, Page 2

IRISH OATH BILL

DECLARED TO BE REPUDIATION

LONDON, May 3

The Secretary for the Dominions (Mr Thomas) stated in the House of Commons to-day that no further official communication had been received from the Irish Free State Government but- a persual of the Oath Abolition Bill not under discussion in the Dad confirmed the view expressed his dispatch to de Valera that the action was nothing but repudiation of the whole 1921 settlement.

Professor Berriedale Keith, in a letter to “The Scotsman” regarding de Valera’s oath-repealing Bill, says that Ottawa would afford an opportunity to use the Empire Governments’ combined wisdom to reach accord, Britian without serious injury, could consent to a modification of the oath so long as tlve Crown remained an essential element of the Constitution. Professor Keith’s suggestion is not favoured in British Government circles where Ottawa is regarded essentially as an economic conference which does not require a red herring dragged across the path, John McCormack, the 'singer, told de Valera’s newspaper, the “Irish Press,” that tile Sunday newspaper story that he would try and dissuade de Valera from leaving the Empire was “a confounded and unmitigated lie.”