REPUDIATION OF THE IRISH TREATY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 255, 20 June 1932, Page 5

REPUDIATION OF THE IRISH TREATY

(British Official Wireless)

de valera's policy free state president : "'adopts impossible" ' s attitude MR. J .H. THOMAS HITS OUT

RUGBY, Saturday. The trend of 'recent conversations in Dublin and ' London with developinerits in connection with the 'differbrices With the Irish Free State Were disclosed i'n an important statement in the House of Cbmmons by Mr. J. H. Thonias. The Minister said that when the treaty was signed no one assumed it was the last word; but, similarly, no one assumed that any change would be made without agreement. During the past ten years thei-e had been consultations of major and minpr importance and there were three formal agreements amending or supplement-^ ing the treaty following negotiations and -consultations. With>a change of Government in. the Free State they had no right to except that treaties and agreements would be torn up with impunity. Therefore, the Government had received' with astonishment Mr. de Valera's intimation which in effect stated — (1) that the Irish Free State Government intended and were'taking the necessary steps, to abolish the oath, on the grounds that it was not maridatory' in the treat'y, and (2) that his Government intended to withhold the land annuities. Mr.' Thomhs had replied on behalf of the British Government courteously but firmly intimating that this was a position that could not be accepted, and Showed that there was no doubt that the oath was hiandatory. They made it clear that they could not enter into any agreement with a Government which proposed to repudiate a treaty. When he came to London Mr. de Valera was told that no useful purpose would be served by a discussion on these lines, for no British Government would ever agree to such a suggestion. Mr. Thomas continued : 'Within the last two hours a further despatch from Mr. de Valera has been received, stating that the Free State Government accepted tbe principle of the British proposal for arbitration on the land annuities.