LAND ANNUITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1932, Page 5

LAND ANNUITIES

DE VALERA’S CASE QUESTION OF ARBITRATION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) .. DUBLIN, July 18. After a long.: discussion by the Free (State- -Cabinet, Mr de Valera issued a statement. In this he says that the only obstacle to arbitration is the British’ Government’s insistence thak ■restrictions should be imposed on the arbitrators to be nominated by the Triah Free’State. The Government of the Fre e State, however, will not accept the principle that whenever any two states an the British Commonwealth of Nations propose to submit their' disputes'’bo. arbitration, the personnel of the tribunal must be drawn exclusively from the British Commonwealth' of Nations.

Mr de Valera said ; “The alternative tO 1 arbitration is negotiation, but Britain' demands as a preliminary to negotiation that the disputed payments shall he continued.’ The Il’ich iFree Stake Government’cannot agree to that, but, as an evidence’ of good faith, the sums required to I 'meet the payments are being f put urito a Suspense Account.” The Irish Free Sia'Se,'' idds" ;Mr 1 "de Valera, Is not anxious to ; enter - into any ecouomio war, but' it is determine to defend the interests of its people who hive • unjustly been Compelled to bear the present burdens;

A Labour Deputy, Who asked for an assurance that the Emergency Tariffs Bill would bo revealed /immediately the proposed Arbitration Court ana the terms of reference ' thereto had been agreed : upon, was .informed tha't the Government had no desir 6 for the •Bill to remain in force longer than the Government considered necessary.,

.BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S VERSION

ON DISPUTE OVER ANNUITIES

' RUGBY; July 16. The position of th 6 British Government regarding the Anglo-Irish negotiations is defined in a. Statement as

follows:; — ' ' , ■ “Thb .‘dispute over ; land annuities which has given rise to th e trouble re- ' lates to 1 payments which the Free State. Government .agreed to mate some yeafs ago, and which hitherto ;have been regularly made with the S sanction of the Free State Parliament. ■An offer of arbitration was formally ■made to Mr de Yalera on June 10th. The /Fre& State Government raised difficulties-.as Jtq how v a.. court of arbi-

:'\ t ration .could be -constituted, (Even on >y that, however, they world com e to no - close negotiations at London. At the ]a*h minute, ft proposal was‘put to the British . Government that the facts should bo inquired into by a body of two. appointed by the Fre*. State Government, and two by the British Government.... The novelty of this pro, posal lay.,ip the'fact, that it was not proposed that a, decision by this body 1 ighould have a binding effect;. When the four had drafted a report or reports, the Governments were to nego-

tiate and no proposal was., made for means o-f coming to -an agreement xJ should negotiations fail. The proposal * therefore, involved weoks, if not moißhs, of talk, ’ with no certainty of .agreement at the .end. Meantime, the relations between ifie . Governments would have been deteriorating. The British Government is anxious for a settlement of the annuities question, 1 and wiping for arbitration iby a specially seLup body, or for further discussions, if direct contact could be maintained between the ’Governments on the means of finding a settlement of financial' questions. They proposed that the present situation deadlock should 'be treated in a way in which. money disputed were often treated.; in the law counts, that is .the payments,.contested should be made pending .a-,-, decision’, with the undertaking that :..tliese pay- :, . 1 ments should : be,. subject c/or ultimate | settlement,, They proposed that upon an agreement on terms of reference for arbitration, or a further discussion, v-and upon payment of the money inf vorved, all present action be suspended, including the/.collection of revenue, by way of ;v special customs, and that ; remains, their, position. - They are prepared, so soon as they receive a communicatioi). from' 'the Free, State Government to this effect, to enter at once into such an .agreement, and this dispute will be ep,ded, , FARMERS ARE DISAPPOINTED. NEW ULSTER REGULATIONS. t DUBLIN, July 18. Iveen disappointment i,s felt at Mr (] 0 Valera’s failure to negotiate a settlement. Farmers are in despair, a,3 the y export of cattle, sheep, eggs and butter f has practically stopped, and a deadlock in the agriculture business i s threatened. ■ T'ho Ulster Customs officials have made new regulations to check any evasion of-duties on the Free State ' border, where they have now established a number of new* Customs posts, •which are staffed by .Engli hmen. The latter are living h bell tents. The sites fir these teft'-s wer e purchased .some; Time ago. The Free State racehorse owners i’Ahave refused to pay a duty of £2O per ' bead on the racelhomes they had .intended to run' at the: Belfast meeting. Heavy consignments of Briti'h manufactures are now being shipped to the Irish Free State, as it is expected that