CONCESSIONS TO EIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20491, 6 May 1938, Page 7

CONCESSIONS TO EIRE

THE AGREEMENT WITH BRITAIN DEFENCE, FINANCE AND TRADE THE PARTITION ISSUE HAD TO BE DROPPED (Official Wireless.) (Received May 6, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, May 5 In moving the second reading in the House of Commons of the Bill confirming the Anglo-Eire Agreement, Mr Neville Chamberlain first reviewed the history of the Anglo-Irish differences over many years. He said that to get a complete settlement four subjects demanded discussion. Partition had to be laid aside after both parties had made their position clear, but. agreements had been reached on the other three —defence, finance and trade. After describing the trade agreement, which he said, might be considered equally, beneficial to both parties, Mr Chamberlain came to the agreements on defence and finance, of which he admitted it could not be said for either that on the face of it it constituted a good agreement from the point of view of the United Kingdom, since both made a very large and impressive concession to Eire, without offering any corresponding advantages in return. “Indeed, I say frankly that if you are to find any such advantages you must look outside the agreement and seek those intangible, imponderable, nevertheless invaluable, fruits which on various occasions in the past have rewarded liberal and unselfish acts of generosity by a great and powerful country towards a State weaker and poorer than itself.”

£10,000,000 For £100,000,000 Claims The Premier cited figures *to showthat in the finance agreement they were settling for the payment by Eire of £10,000,000 British claims, the capitalised value of which amounted to over £100,000,000. That, he said, was generous treatment, but he hoped the House would agree that the Government had a right to end a dispute, even at that price. It must also be remembered that the continued exaction of special duties on goods from Eire, though they yielded shout £4,000,000 annually, was gradually impoverishing that country and reducing its potential value as a customer of Britain. Finally, they should recollect that they were dealing not with a foreign country but with a partner in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Agreement on Defence Coming to the agreement on defence Mr Chamberlain said there had been no part in the discussions with Eire which gave him and his colleagues occasion for more prolonged and anxious thought than the subject of defence, and Mr de Valera’s request that Britain should hand back to Eire full and unrestricted possession of certain ports and repeal articles In the treaty of 1921, which gave the United Kingdom rights In those ports. The really important part in the articles was that which gave the right to Britain to have the use of those ports in time of war or strained relations with ‘foreign Powers. Great importance attached to those provisions at the time of the treaty. Concession to Mr De Valera Defending the concession made to Mr De Valera, Mr Chamberlain referred to the difficulties of defending ports in an unfriendly country, and said that after most careful consideration of all the circumstances and after due consultation with the chiefs of staff the Government oame to the conclusion that a friendly Eire was worth far more to the United Kingdom, both, in peace and war, than rights which could only be exerolsed at the risk of maintaining, and perhaps, Increasing 111-will. They surrendered the ports as an act of faith, firmly believing that the act would be appreciated by the people of Eire and would conduce to good relations. “ 1 would remind the House," said Mr Chamberlain, “ that in his speech in the Dail, Mr De Valera repeated what he had said on more than one occasion before, namely, that Eire would not permit Irish territory to be used as a base by any foreign country for an attack upon this country, and that he further announced his intention to put these ports into a proper state of defence, so that he could implement that assurance." Northern Ireland Interests The Premier explained the manner in which the interests of Northern Ireland had been consulted and safeguarded. and cited Viscount Craigavon's approval of the agreements. Mr Chamberlain concluded with a warm tribute to De Valera and his colleagues for their sincerity and accommodation. and commended the agree(Continued in next column)

PAYMENT OF £10,000,000 LOAN TO BE FLOATED AN ADVERSE TRADE BALANCE United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright DUBLIN, May 4 The Minister of Finance, Mr Sean McEntee, announced In the Dail today that a loan would be floated shortly to assist to meet the payment of £10,000,000 to Britain In terms of the recently-signed agreement. The Minister also stated that the adverse trade balance was £22,600,000 — the highest on record. THE NEW PRESIDENT DR. DOUGLAS HYDE’S ELECTION CONDUCTED IN GAELIC (Official Wlreles9) RUGBY, May 4 The ceremony of Dr. Douglas Hyde's election as President of Eire lasted only four minutes and was conducted In Gaelic. Dr. Hyde, replying, said: "I accept this office willingly but humbly, and I shall do my best to discharge its duties." The President will take office in a fortnight's time. A RECORD DEFICIT United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright DUBLIN, May 4 The finances of Eire for the year Just closed show a deficit of £22,600,000—the highest on record. ments to the House in a passage in which he recalled his father’s association with the Irish question and in which he declared. “ Despite alt controversies of the past and all the heat which, has been generated, this country and Eire cannot do without one another. " Our natural Interests and our geographical position inevitably tend to bring us together. What has kept us apart has been not a divergence of interests but something which ought to be far less important a difference of opinion of hope that and I hope that difference of opinion is now at an end." Criticism by Mr Churchhlll Mr Winston Churchill said the ports being handed over were sentinels of western approach, through which the People of Britain got their food carried. They were England’s life defences. The Government claimed Admiralty approval, but this was contrary to the expert opinion placed before the Government which negotiated the Irish Free State treaty.