CAUSES SURPRISE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1932, Page 5

CAUSES SURPRISE

GOVERNOR’S EXIT STATEMENT OF POSITION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. The announcement that hi accordance with the advice tendered to His Majesty, by Mr de Valera, th 6 King had approved Mr James McNeill relinquishing' -office of Cov-crnor-General, caused an intense surprise *n London and Dublin. It is known ' however that the relations tbetween Mr McNeill and the de Valera Ministry had been strained ever since the latter took. office. The fr i crin 11 was publicly revealed last July, when the Governor-General, despite (Mr de l Valera’s ban, which . was later removed, published correspondence, in which he complained of the discourtesy towards him by the F ree S.tat e Government at public functions, ‘before and during the recent Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. In the course of these letters, Air McNeill (said he did not think he knew Mr de Valera had power to have him removed. This power resides in the findings of the Imperial OonfotencO, 1930, subsequently embodied in the Statute of Westminster. The ‘Statute requires Ministers, who tender, and are responsible for advice relating to the appointment of Dominion Governor-Gen-erals, are - His Majesty’s Ministers in the Dominion concerned. It is further provided that Ministers concerned shall tender their -formal advice, after informal consultation with His Majesty. Th« Free State High Commissioner in (London, (M.r John iDulanty, who waited upon the King at Balmoral, last month, was tl\e channel through which the advice’ was tendered. On leaving Balmoral, Air -Dulan,ty visited Dublin. Mr McNeill, in response to the Royal summons, came to London, and yesterday had an audience of and took leave of, the King on relinquishing his office. He had the special honour of being invited to luncheon with the King and Queen., .. ■ Newspaper ’ comment is restrained. “The Times” says : “The King’s assent to Mr de Valera’s formal submission Implies no reflection on Air McNeill's tenure of office, which to aI J appearances, has be<ta admirably dignified and correct. Nor will Air McNeill complain of the Royal decision, which indeed iis proof conclusive, if proof .were need, that people of th© Free State have complete liberty under" the Treaty to order their own affairs and that <Mr d© Valera’s familiar eloquence about the British yoke is so much empty ranting.” The “Manchester Guardian” says; '“Mr de Talera seized the opportunity to assert th© constitutional right ot the Dominion, on grounds which are flimsy and petty, and is far less concerned with choosing . a more acceptable Governor-General, than with twisting the tail of his political opponents in Ireland, and making a fresh of defiance against the British connection.” The “News-Chronicle” says: “To Englishmen it is all a little mystifying and a little tedious.”