DEFINED IN COMMONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 690, 16 November 1933, Page 5

DEFINED IN COMMONS

(British Official Wireless.)

DOMINION'S SECRETARY MAKES IMPORTANT STATEMENT. TREATY OBLIGATIONS

Rugby, No. 14. An important statement was made by the; Secretary of the Dominions, : Mr. J. H. Thomas, - in the House of Commons on the position of the Government of the United Kingdom with regard to the most recent development in the Irish Free State, and in particular to the three bills now hefore the Irish Free State Parliament for the amendment of the Irish Free State constitution. .... Mr. Thomas said: "We are advised that this legislation conflicts .in important respects with the Treaty of 1921, and its passage therefore involves a further repudiation of the obligations entered into by the Irish Free State under the treaty. "Quite apart from any question of legality, we look upon it as a repudiation of an honourable settlement. No modification of the treaty can proper ; ly be made except by agreement bei tween the two countries. But that is i not the only aspect of the matter. ; The real significance of the bills is ! that they clearly indicate intention to gradually eliminate the Crown from the constitution of the Irish Free State. "Mr. De Valera has told us, as I said in the House of Commons on June 17, 1932, that the ultimate aim is the rocognition of the United Ireland as a Republic, with some form of association with the British Commonwealth in some circumstances and for some reasons and the recognition of the King as head of the association. Proposals Not Acceptable. "Our view can be clearly stated: The declaration of the Imperial Conference of 1926 as to the relationship of Great Britain and the Dominions under the Crown must be accepted as the basis of the constitutional position of the Irish Free State within the Empire. That declaration is clearly inconsistent with the state of things under which the Irish Free State would be a member of the British Commonwealth of nations for 'some purposes and not for all, and would cease to be united with Great Britain and the Dominions by common allegiance to the Crown. Empire Membership. "Our conception of membership of the British Commonwealth is something entirely different. "The Irish Free State as a member of that Commonwealth is, as Mr. De Valera himself must have now learned, completely free to order her own affairs. Membership of the 1 Commonwealth confers great advantages, which by hei' own action the Irish Free State is tending to lose. The privileges include common citizenship, economic advantages in trading, opportu'nity of powerful influence in international affairs in concert with members of the Commonwealth in the cause of world peace. ! These privileges carry with them re- ' sponsibility; namely, respect for the Crown, the loyal observance of engagements, and the spirit of friendship and co-operation with other members of the British Commonwealth. Ireland's Full Share. "It is our desire to see the Irish Free State taking a full share as a member of the Commonwealth and not grudgingly but of her own free will, accepting the responsibilities and enjoying the privileges. If she renounces one she cannot hope to enjoy the other. Asked if he proposed to take any steps in consultation with the Dominions to emphasise the policy he indicated Mr. Thomas said the dispute affected Great Britain and the Irish Free State alone. They did not intend to drag the Dominions into it.