1938-05-06 — Page 7

MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL ATTACKS ANGLO-EIRE PACT Debate On Agreement In House Of Commons

Partition Question

Laid Aside At

Outset

London, To-day.

the ports might fall into, enemy] hands, but there was danger that Ireland might be neutral in war- time, or Mr. de Valera might say he would make common cause with us if we gave him the whole Ireland.

of

Mr. Churchill suggested the Bill might be postponed pending fur- ther arrangements about the treaty

RECONCILIATION

RESTITUTION

FOR ERRORS

OF PAST POLICY

London, To-day,

Mr. Grenfell for the Labour Par- ty twitted the Premier with

now

Moving the second reading of the Eire (Confirma- ports and common defence action

tion of Agreement) Bill in the House of Com-Reuter. mons yesterday, the Prime Minister paid a tri- Mr. Malcolm Macdonald, Domin-sponsoring a policy which he de- bute to Mr. Malcolm Macdonald, the Dominions Secretary, replying to the described as a reversal of that which ions Secretary, for his inexhaustible patience bate, said it was the faith of the the party Mr. Chamberlain led had Government that by the exercise always pursued towards Ireland but and sympathy in connection with the negotia-of that same tolerance and encour said the agreement was welcome to agement, and the same mutual re- the country and regarded by many tions. The four questions which were reviewed at the spect and trust as had achieved re- British people as making some re- conciliation between the French and stitution for the errors of past po Anglo-Irish meetings, declared Mr. Chamber-British in Canada and the Dutch licy.

.During the speech of a member "The partition question was laid aside when we could be achieved between the Irish lowed, Mr. Chamberlain intervened to deny that there was any unpub- made it perfectly plain that it was a matter and British.

Referring to the financial agree-lished understanding on which must be discussed between the Northern ment, he said the Government con-and recalled that Mr. De Valera also and Southern Ireland Governments, and that fidently expected the balance sheet had told the Dail that there were we could not even think of putting pressure on would not be simply a financial bal-no secret understanding on any mat- North Ireland to come to an arrangement If we could receive from the Gov-ed the approval of the Liberals of

lain, were partition, defence, finance and trade. and British in South Africa, that

another miracle of reconciliation from Northern Ireland which fol

which did not commend itself to them.

ance sheet.

partition

ter. Mr. Graham White express-

on

ernment of Eire also, friendship in the agreement which would provide stead of hostility, confidence in-a basis on which Anglo-Irish friend- "The trade agreement might be 1921 Treaty, which could only be stead of distrust, co-operation in-ship could be gradually rebuilt. considered equally beneficial to exercised at the risk of maintain- stead of opposition, then he believ- Mr. Churchill's speech rapidly de-

the both parties, and we believe that ing, and perhaps increasing,

ed, the giver would be twice bless-veloped into a vigorous attack the coal mining industry, in parti-old illwill.”

ed.

agreements, the effect of which he cular, will welcome the advantages Mr. Chamberlain recalled Mr. de

-IRISH RESENTMENT

described in his closing sentence as to be expected therefrom,

Valera's statement that Eire would

Mr. Macdonald emphasised Irish "inviting demands from every quar- "In fact, it is the defence and not permit Irish territory to be used

resentment at the occupation ofter" and "casting away really im- finance agreements which do not by any foreign power for an attackih ports, and said the Govern-portant means of security and sur-

for on the United Kingdom, and would constitute good agreements

militaryvival for. vain shadows meat, with its naval and Britain, because they make the put those ports into a proper state advisers, had deliberately come to ease." He cited Mr. De Valera's largest and most impressive con-of defence.

the conclusion that the security of declaration that the agreement cessions to Eire, without super-

NORTH IRELAND

Great Britain would be greater un-would further the cause of Ireland ficially corresponding advantages. Referring to the Northern Ire-

r the evacuation of these ports. to confound the claim of the pre- LOOK OUTSIDE

land representations that some pro-

He concluded by saying that the mier that an agelong controversy "One must look outside the visions of the Anglo-Eire Agree-

British Wireless.

agreements for the intangible, im-ments might materially affect Uis-agreement put Irish freedom beyond was closed.

the shadow of a doubt and with

and

ponderable-but-none-the-less-in-ter's-economic interests, the Gov valuable fruits which, on various ernment had been able to meet to occasions in the past, have reward- a very considerable degree the sug-pute, Anglo-Irish friendship would Reuter. ed an unselfish act of generosity by gestions made to us.

The removal of the causes of dis-grow-naturally-and-inevitably.

a great and powerful country to- Mr. Chamberlain concluded by wards a weaker and poorer state." exhorting the House to bear in Excluding Eire's annual payment mind that conclusion of the Agree- of £250,000 in respect of damage ment had obtained the warm ap- to property, British claims amount, proval, not only of many in this capitalised, to over £100,000,000.

Eire has not admitted the claim, but nevertheless we have been re- ceiving over £4,000,000 a year from the special duties.

being

country, but in others, in the Do- minions and the United States, and indeed everywhere.

After the Prime Minister had re- Įplied to questions by Sir D. Reid All financial claims are

(Conservative, Down). and Mr. withdrawn in return for £10,000,- Winston Churchill, and had given

000.

the assurance that there was no COMPROMISE INEVITABLE Į "Nobody could deny that this secret understanding behind the

Agreement, Mr. Churchill spoke. was generous treatment but if ever

MR. CHURCHILL'S CRITICISM the dispute was to be ended, some

Mr. Churchill declared that the compromise was inevitable.

"Further, we should recollect Agreement seemed to have given that we are not dealing with a everything away in return for the foreign country but with a partner payment of £10,000,000. in the Empire, and therefore are on terms of partnership, not com- petitorship."

HONOURED

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

American Express

It did not end the Anglo-Irish Travelers Cheques

quarrel, because Mr. de Valera had said. he would never rest until par Mr.. Chamberlain said that no tition was swept away.

Mr. Churchill recalled the anti- part of the discussions gave more

of the "dark' more and

anxious British • activities prolonged thought than the subject of de- forces of the Irish underworld” in fence, and the request was made to wartime, and said thatˇthe Anglo- hand back full and unrestricted Irish Treaty of 1921, of which he possession of certain ports, and was one of the few remaining sign·| repeal of certain Articles in the atories, had been repudiated and 1921 Treaty, which gave us rights violated in every detail by Mr. de

Valera. in those ports.

PAPER RIGHTS

When the Treaty of 1921 was "After very careful consideration|being drafted, the Admiralty ad- of all the · circumstances and due vised him that without the use o consideration by the Chief of Staff, Irish ports, it would be very ́dif- we came to the conclusion that a ficult, and perhaps Impossible, tc

worth far feed the British Isles in wartime. friendly Ireland more to us, both in peace and war, POSTPONEMENT SUGGESTED than the paper rights under the He was not going to argue that

Was

:

The safe and convenient means.

of carrying travel funds,

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