OFFER FROM BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1921, Page 5

OFFER FROM BRITAIN.

STATUS OF A DOMINION. DESIRE TO END HATRED. .SIX CONDITIONS IMPOSED. fir Talegriph.—Press Assn.—CopyriEht. London. August 14. Downing Street to-day published a summary of the negotiations with Mr. De Valera. The British proposals, dated July 20, express the earnest desire of the British Government to end the unhappy divisions, and its longings for a satisfactory solution. It was convinced that the Irish people might find as worthy and complete an expression of its political and spiritual ideals within the Empire as any of the numerous and varied nations united in allegiance to His Majesty’s throne. The Government desired such a consummation, not only for the welfare of Britain, but for that of Ireland and the Empire, also for the cause of the world's peace and harmony. Referring to racial differences the message said that the British people could not believe that where Canada and South Africa had succeeded Ireland should fail. The Government invited Ireland to take a place in the great association of free nations over which His Majesty reigned as an earnest of their desire to obliterate old quarrels and to enable Ireland to face the future in her own strength. It proposed that Ireland should assume forthwith the status of a Dominion, enjoying complete autonomy in taxation and finance. She should maintain her own courts of law, judges and constabulary, her own police and take ever the Irish postal services and all matters relating to education, land, agriculture, mines, minerals, forestry, labor, unemployment, transport, trade, public health, insurance, and the liquor traffic. In sum she should-exercise all the powers and privileges upon which the autonomy of the self-governing Dominions was based. She would be guaranteed in these liberties, which no foreign people could challenge without challenging the Empire as a whole. The Dominions held, by virtue of their British fellowship, a standing among the nations equivalent to the combined power and influence of all the nations in she Commonwealth. THE CONDITIONS. That guarantee, that fellowship, that freedom which the Empire looked to Ireland to accept, the British Government was prepared to give immediate effect to, upon the following conditions, which in their opinion were vital the welfare and safety of Britain |nd Ireland.

1. The common concern of Britain and Ireland in the defence of their interests on land and seas shall mutually be recognised. Britain lives on sea-borne foqd, and her communications depend on the freedom of the great sea routes. Ireland lies across the sea ways, and, in recognition of this fact, which nature has imposed and no statesmanship can alter, it is essential that the Royal Navy alone should control the seas round Ireland and Britain. Such rights and liberties shall be accorded by the Irish State as are essential for naval purpose?. 2. In order not to hamper the movement towards disarmament the Irish territorial force shall within reasonable limits conform in respect to numbers to the military establishments in other parts of the islands. 3. Britain is to have all necessary facilities for the development of defence and communications by air. 4. Britain hopes that Ireland in due course, and, of her own free will, will contribute a proportion of her

wealth to the regular naval, military, and air forces of the Empire. Further, it is assumed that voluntary recruiting .will be permitted throughout Ireland, particularly for the famous Irish regiments. 5. The British and Irish Governments shall agree to impose no protective duties or other restrictions upon the flow of transport, trade, and commerce. 0. The Irish peopU agree to resume responsibility fur and share the present debt of the United Kingdom and the liability for pensions truing out of the great war.

NO COERCION OF ULSTER. The British Government proposes that the conditions of settlement be embodied in the form of a treaty, and looks to such instrument to obliterate the old conflicts forthwith and clear the way to a detailed settlement in full accordance with Irish conditions and needs. The form which the settlement shall take depends on Ireland herself, and must allow for full recognition of the existing powers and privileges of the Parliament and Government of Northern Ireland, which cannot be abrogated except by its own consent. Union came to Canada by the free consent of the provinces, and so with Australia and South Africa. It will come to Ireland in ho other way than by consent. The British Government will undertake to give effect to any terms in this respect on which all Ireland unites. On no condition can Britain consent to any proposals which would kindle civil war in Ireland. Throughout the Empire there is a deep desire that the dav of violence sftiall pass and a solution be found con- j sonant with the highest ideals and interests of all parts of Ireland, which ! will enable her to co-operate as a willing partner in the British Common- ■ wealth. The British Government therefore leaves Irishmen themselves to determine by negotiations whether the new powers be taken over by Ireland as a whole or separately by southern and northern Ireland. By these proposals the British Government firmly believes it has shattered the foundations of the ancient hatred and distrust which have disfigured our history for centuries. The future of Ireland is within the Commonwealth. It is for the Irish people to share. In the foregoing the British Government has attempted no more than the broad outline of the settlement. The details they leave to discussion when the Irish people has signified its acceptance of the pact.