DEBATE IN COMMONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 269, 8 July 1932, Page 5

DEBATE IN COMMONS

, (Press. Assn.-

MEMBER SAYS DE VALERA SET TRAP FOR MR. THOMAS LABOUR OPPOSITION

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. July 7, 7.0 p.m. • LONDON, Thursday, Mr. j. h. Thomas, Secretary for the Dominipns, reterring' tQ Mr. George Lansbury's motion to reject the Irish Imposts Bill on the ground that the Free State is paying the disputed money into a suspense account pending arbitration, reminded • the Opposition that the Free State Land Act of 1923, made payments into the suspense account obligatary. Mr. Lansbury said the amendment has precipitated the adoption of economic reprisals against the Free State, and it was essential that Mr. Thomas remembered that, because th'ere was. a disagreement regarding the setting up of the trihunal at the Imperial Conference. The Statute of Westminister was passed without any tribunal matter having been discussed. • The Free State was not doing something which put them outside the pale of ordinary civilised states. The dispute was an honest dispute, and not a question of money. The Bill was a piece of penal legislation which would only cngender • hatred and bitterness. Golonel Moore-Brabazon, rspeaking as a "half Irishman," said Mr. de Valera had no sense of honour, and had set a trap into which Mr. Thomas had fallen, and as a result had started up all the old animosity. If lreland swung to a republic at the next el'sction, he said, Mr. Thomas was responsible more than any other man. (Cries of "No.") Mr. Lansbury said th'at Mr. de Yalera and the Irish people were perfectly entitled to take the steps tliey were taking from the first to the larst.