DE VALERA PROTESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1941, Page 6

DE VALERA PROTESTS

AGAINST CONSCRIPTION IN ULSTER SAYS IT WILL REVIVE OLD DISCORDS. LABOUR APPEAL TO BRITISH MINISTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. Noon.) DUBLIN, May 26. There could not be a more grievous attack on any fundamental human right than to compel an individual to fight by force for a country to which he objected to belong, said Mr de Valera, speaking on conscription in a crowded Dail. The six Northern Counties, he said, had always been part of Ireland. Their inhabitants were Irishmen. Nothing could alter that. "There is not an Irishman in the world who does not regard the continuance of partition as a deadly wound inflicted on the body of this nation,’ Mr de Valera added. “In the Northern Counties over one third of the population vehemently protested against cutting oft from the main body of the nation. We are determined, to keep our pledge not io permit our territory to be used for attack against Britain, but if Britain persist in enforcing conscription the people of these islands will be thrown back into the old unhappy relations. It would be wanton, in the present welter of death and destruction, to stir up anew those old bitternesses.” Mr W. T. Cosgrave, supporting Mr de Valera, said the situation was so serious that it might involve the very existence oT Eire. The Irish Parliamentary Labour Party has telegraphed to Labour members of the British Government saying that grave resentment against conscription would result in bitterness and strife and urging Labour members of the British Government to use their influence to prevent "this act of aggression.”