IRISH FREE STATE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 79, 24 November 1931, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

(Press :Assn.-

place in empire

STATUTE OF WESTMIN STER EMBARRASSES * ! • ' MINISTRY 0 HOPES TOO FULLY REALISED

— By Telegraph — Copyright.)

Rec. Nov. 23, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, Sunday. • The Statute of Westminster fulfils the ' Frqe State Government's hopes so fully that it nlay prove embarrassing, according to the "Times' " Dublin correspondent. V 'The Statute removes the Administration's only point of dissatisfaction j with the' Aiigld-Ifigh Treaty, namely, the ,Privy Councii," which, if the Statute is passed, the Free State will hasten to abolish. ' On the other hand, the Government prizes the Treaty and the Constitutiori afe a charter of* natidnal liberty it is also fully alive to'the conditions df the Free State's place in' the British Commonwealth. The attitude of the Fianna Fail and De' ya'lera, however, constitutes an embarrassment. *' ■ The "Times" says that if appeal tothe Privy Councii could be abolished the remainder of the Treaty 'is not sacrosanct, and that therefore, the Treaty and the Constitution will probably be challenged at the general election a f ew months hence. The Fianna Fail is attacking the Treaty for not repudiating land annuities, appealing to the fafmers* greed and aiming at absolute, aggfessive independence. The followers of the President, Mr W'. T. Cosgrove, on the other hand,

plead that the abolition of the right of appeal to the Privy Councii wil be productive of complete independence. The right of appeal, they say, enables the Free State to associate heartily in the British Commonwealth's rising fnrtrmps:' • ' •