CONFERENCE FAILS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 250, 13 June 1932, Page 5

CONFERENCE FAILS

(Press Assn.-

INSISTENCE ON ABOLITION OF OATH BOOMS MEETING VIEWS POLES APART

— By Telegraph— CopyrieM.]

LONDON, Saturday. The Irish Conferepce bas concluded. No agreement was reached. The conversations commeneed at 11.30 a.m., adjourned at 1.20 and resumed after luneh. There is not the slightest indieation of the line taken in the discussions. Nobody emerged from the building at lunch time, hut there was some change of plans because previously Mr. De Yalera's intention had been to devote the afternoon to sightseeing. The Sun learas that a breakidown in the Irish nsgotiations was due to Mr. De , Valera's insisteiace on the right to aholish the oath and Britain's insistence that it would violate the treaty. The discussions, which have never progressed beyond this point, were doomed from the outset. When it was abundantly clear that the respective views were poles apart Britain actually hinted her willingness to submit the annuities question to an Empire tribunal, but the question was never seriously discussed, because the oath deadlock rendered the position hopeless. Meanwhile, the position regarding Ottawa is complicated. It is understood Mr. R. B. Bennetts, the Canadian Prime Minister, pressure was primarily responsible for tbe Anglo-Irish meeting as Mr. Bennett hoped conversations would clear the atmosphere. Crowds at Wliitehall, many waving Irish flags, vociferously cheered Mr. De Valera when motoring to the train where there was a dramatic climax. •* Pdrj. Thomas, ritting in the compartmenfe facing Mr. De Valera wa i ceea learning across the table talking and shaking a forefingsr (a characteristic gesture of the Minister t/hen pleading) for £en minutes. Mr. Da Valera silently Isant back without speaking, being obviously immovable. The guard's shrill v/histle terminated the drama, and Mr. Thomas rose, shook hands, stepped on to the platform, removed his hat and wiped his brow with a gesture of despair.