INCONSISTENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 279, 20 July 1932, Page 2

INCONSISTENT

i i Two inclependent cable messages ' published yesterday furnish an - ironic commentary upon the at- i titude of the'lrish Free State to- : wards the British Commonwealth of Nations. One 'message, from Ottawa, records the wel- : come extended to the Free State ; delegation, "as the first of the ; national delegates" to reach the | Canadian capital for the Ottawa : Conference. The second, from Dublin, quotes the "president of the Irish Free State, Mr Eamonn de Valera: "The Free State will not accept the principle that whenever two States oi the British Commonv/eaith propose to submit disputes to arbitration, the personnel of the tribunal must be drawn exclusively from the Commonwealth." Even to such a determined egotist as Mr. de Valera, it must be a little difficult to reconcile the eagerness with which his Government has seized upon the possible advantages which may be derived from membership of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and the barely concealed antagonism to everything and anything British which has characterised his attitude since he first distinguished himself as a Sirrn Fein leader. The atmosphere in Ireland since Mr. de Valera's assumption of office, has reflected his inimical personality, and unless it is under the compulsion of economic necessity, it appears unlikely that time will bring any ; moderation in his thinly veiled ; hostility towards the Empire association. Any man is entitled [ to his political convictions, but a British audience would have more regard for Mr. de Valera's sincerity, if it was not marred by his effrontery. For it is little less than effrontery to adopt a deliberate policy of tweaking the lion's tail and then expect that too amenable beast to jump through hoops with undisturbed amiability. If Mr. cle Valera was consistent in his rejection of the Empire Commonweailth either as an arbitrator or as an association, he would abjure Ottawa and all its works. But instead we find his delegation first to be welcomed in its eagerness to participate in the conference negotiations.