IRISH PROTEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1939, Page 6

IRISH PROTEST

against conscription APPEAL BY LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN. TELEGRAM TO PREMIER. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Byrne, has telegraphed to Mr Chamberlain earnestly requests for the exclusion of Ulster from the conscription proposals and adding that efforts to enforce conscription will result in resistance aiid disaster, the appalling consequences of which -would lead to the loss of millions of friends of the Empire.

ACT OF AGGRESSION MP. DE VALERA’S CONTENTION. OPPOSITE VIEW TAKEN BY ULSTER MEMBERS. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. Ulster House of Commons members have decided to oppose the sections, of the Conscription Bill distinguishing Northern Ireland from the remaindei cf the United Kingdom. Mr E. de Valera in the Dail, said Eire protested most strongly against the imposition of conscription in the six counties. Conscription, he added, aggravated the partition dispute. Eire had nd dispute with ahy country except Britain. Eire had endeavoured to remove the fundamental dispute caused. by partition. Everybody was aware that there . Was opposition to conscription twenty years ago by the united Irish race ajl over the world. The present proposal was no different. It was the proposal of a foreign Government to conscript Irishmen. Mr de Valera added: “We claim that the whole of Ireland is national territory. That claim will remain while the Irish natioii remains. Therefore the conscription of Irishmen inhabiting the six counties would be an act of aggression. It is not sufficient that there Should be a suggestion that it will not be enforced immediately. The threat would be intolerable. I believe I am speaking for the Irish all over the world if I ask that it be eliminated.” A Cosgraveite, Mr J. M. O’Sullivan, said: “With England and France facing a situation in which their very existence is at stake, it was amazing that Britain raised such a matter of grave misunderstanding. In many respects the situation was graver than before the Great War. He regretted and he was sure Mr de Valera regretted, the necessity of the Prime Min* ister’s statement. Mr de Valera, replying to the debate, said: ‘‘We don’t want the territory of Northern Ireland, but we want the people’s hearts. Coercion exists against a portion of the- people in the North. If the final difficulties of the partition Were removed, it would be the desire of the whole Irish nation to have the friendliest relations with Britain.” ~j v