London, Mar, 22. ince I arrived in the House, 1 have received officially from the Irish Free State Commissioner in London a very important and seri-fous document, dealing with the Trish situation," Mr, J, H. Thomas, Secretary of State for the Domin-Sons, announced in the House of Commons this afternoon, "It is too important," he added, "to announce now but "I will take the earliest opportunity, " probably to-morrow, to give an official answer. 1 ought not to leave the House in any doubt es to the gravity land seriousness of the situation."
The statement, plunged the House into. gloomy forebodings of a troublesome controversy.
Immediately afterwards, Mr. Thomas was seen to hand the document, from the Trish Commissioner to Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who discussed its terms with Mr. Thomas and Sir Philip Cunlffe-Lister," Seeretary of State for the Colonie The High Commissioner of the Allegiance and to cease the paynent of the land annuities.
The House of Commons was] crowded to-day with anxious mem-lers when the, Seer!
the Dominions, Mr. J.-H.
made his promised state-formed. yesterday" by" the Free State High Commissioner that, the opinion of the Pree State. Government, the Oath of, Allegiance snot, mandatory in' the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Free State have an absolute right to modify the Constitution as the people: de-it is manifest," Mr. Thomas continued, "'that the Oath Integral part of the Treaty, hitherto honourably observed by both sides. We are addressing to the Free State Government a communication explaining our standpoint beyond. possibility of doubt.
"We have received no official com munication as regards the land an~ hui ties, but from. the reported. speech of Mr. de Valera yesterday we understand that the Free State, Government propose to retain the Government is the ud to continue to pay the land annuities. Failure: to do so will be a violation of the Treland is impossible so long as a Agreement, which "is binding in full and free representation law and honour on the Free State, people in the Parliay is whatever administration may be in. rendered impossible by a test of jower, in the same way asthe reaty itself binds both countries. this character, "L feel sure that I express. the His sentiments of the House' when say it is not the time for panic fo late right to modify the Con: They had or debate in the House.
Mr, Thomas then intimated that stitution as the people desired, and anything affecting the Constitution belonged to their internal sover~ eighty and was purely a domestic ly matter, the Government to uphold. that in-'The people regarded the Oath as strument which, he asserted, cou an intolerable burden, as a relic of be modified except with bilaterof medinevalism and as a test im-Posed from outside under the Mr. Thomas's appeal to defer the Threat of an immediate and te discussion was ignored by members rible war, Surprise was expressed in Dublin ofthe Lett, Wing vot the Labour Party, espe James Maxtovday at the emergence of the ton, the tery representative from crisis. so soon after the elections.
Glasgow, who plied him with ques-Although the contents of the despatch to Mr. Thomas have not been When Mr. Thomas reiterated disclosed, its believed that Mr. de that "the annuities are an explic Valera, the new President of the Dargain between the two peoples Dail Eiriann, has made a definite we intend that the agree me! stand," he. rouse pronouncement on the Cabinet's ihe decision in regard to the withhotding of the land annuities, the next Glasgow, who exclaimed: payment of which is due in the for' millions of people.'
Jatter part of June.
The annuities amount to £3,000,- mark and the Speaker had to in-Loud protests greeted this re-000 per annum and arise out of tervene to restore order.
Acts of Parliament passed by the In the morning Mr, Thomas had British Government to facilitate an audience of the King at Bucking-the purchase of landholdings by ham Palace, where he Irish tenants. Stock was issued to fan hour, proceeding st raise the money and the British there to'No. 10 Downing Street to Government guaranteed the inter-attend a meeting of the Cabinet. est.
At the meeting the terms of the Mu. de. Valera speaking in the statement which Afr. Thomas later Senate "this afternoon, sai the "House of Commons ard to the Oath of Allegiance that dered. they had received mandate from Mar. 24. the people and intended to carry it Reuter understands that the out, Their attitude was one of reply of the Cabinet of the Trish friendliness towards Britain; they|Pree State to the British Note aid not want bitterness to, be} will assert that Mr. de Valera, the revived if that could be avoided, new President of the Dail, is deal ut they were going to perform ing only, with the Oath of Allegi their duty. towards. their own ance contained in the Constitution people. framed by his predecessor, Mr.
'There is little doubt in London liam T. Cosgrave, not with the that an emergency debate will be Oath of Allegiance in the Anglo-secured to-morrow on the subject Irish Treaty of 1921. of the communication from th The Free State' Cabinet will Trish Free State. The Cabinet stress the fact that Northern Ire-considering the situation to-morrow land is allowed to retain the land morning, after which: Mr." Thomas annuities and that the Free State will make a statement in the House similarly entitled to retain its of Commons. portion.
Conservatives are demanding that The British Note tothe Free|d any loss in revenue from the land State has the subject annuities should be recouped by an Schsvitve docwsston ty the isi Cabinet. The Note stated. that immediate tariff on Irish produce Article "I and Article "IV of the and live-stock, of which 'Britain takes 90 per cent. of the output of 'Anglo-irish 'Treaty put beyond the Free State, doubt that the Oath of Allegiance Mar. 23. was.an integral part of the Treaty' and that Article I and Article Tit The gravest view is taken officio! clearly showed that the Free State ly of the development in Ireland. in the same position as Canada, The King conferred with Mr. J.
Emphasis was laid on the cor H. Thomas, the Secretary of State tention that the Free State was for the Dominions, for half an hour bound in all honour to continue to Pay, the annuities in full. Article:
Subsequently the Cabinet discuss-Tof the financial statement of 1926 ed the situation, contained a solemn undertaking to The Government has decided to that effect and the late Attorney-send a Note to the Irish Free State General of the Free State, and the explaining ts stand int as regards ju ial committee to which he docistin of the new Free State Government to abolish the Oath of Teferred the point, declared that the Free State was bound both
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.