IRISH FREE STATE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1932, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

LAND ANNUITIES

A QUESTION FOR ARBITRATION

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

LONDON, June 25

The British Minister for the Dominions, Mr J. 11. Thomas’ reply to Mi De Valera’s note in' June 16th, lias been dispatched to Dublin. It expresses satisfaction at the Free State Government’s decision in regard to the land annuities as being a suitable question for reference to arbitration. The reply refuses, however, to accept Mr Dc Valera’s suggestion that the personnel of tribunal of arbitration should not he limited to citizens of the Empire. As Mr De Valera did not mention the Oath in his note, it is not mentioned in the reply. A further communication is being sent to Dublin immediately regarding annuities due and payable on June 30th.

If the Irish Free State replies that it does not intend to pay, it is expected that the British Government will ask Parliament fer special powers to deal with the situation in any way that it considers advisable, The Irish .Free State Cabinet had a three-hours’ discussion on the British note, It was decided that Mr Thomas's suggestion to refer the annuities to a tribunal that would be confined to British Commonwealth arbitrators was not an acceptable one. In reference to payments on June 30th, the Free State Cabinet decided that it would take no action until a formal demand lias been received for the money, when a reply will be sent to London. The question, therefore, remains in suspense over the Eucharistic Congress. CONDITIONS IN IRELAND. OUTLINED BY MR COSGROVE. (Received this d.iv at 10.30 a.m ) LONDON. June 26. The Australian Press representative at Dublin had an interesting chat with Mr Cosgrove, who declined to comment on the treatment of the Govern-or-General throughout the Eucharistic Congress. He said that he might say a. good deal but that would net help the unity and amity cf the Congress.

“Besides, there is more danger of things being misunderstood outside than inside Ireland. They don’t understand our political situation in Bi" +r "’' vliere such incidents loom bigger than here You see, we are not quite used to self government, and have just had our first change of Government. We are hardly yet trained to calm acceptance of inevitable swings of the pendulums. In one way. it would be a benefit to the Free State if the present Government were beaten at the earliest possible moment, but the longer view is that it mnv he good for t'' r people to plumb the depths of stupidity of the present Government, which p-o----mised the people more than all the statesmen of Europe together could ever give them.”