Oct, 17.
The regrettable failure of the latest conversations on the di pute between the Irish Free State and Great Britain shows that the chief point at issue is the composition of the tribunal proposed for arbitration. Mi de Valera wants it to include a representative or representatives of countries outside the British Commonwealth. The British Government insists on an Empire Tribunal, in accordance with the principles laid down by the Imperial Confer-fence of 1930. Sir John Simon two months ago, in a public speech, summarised the position thus:
"Now, looking at thin matter in a sensible way, as sensible men should, it is clear that there are two Ways in which it, might be dealt with—by arbitration 'oF by negotiations." Both ways are open. Mr. de Valera contends that there are good. arguments to prove that the Irish Government should keep the money (the 5,000,000 per annum, Land Annuities). We do not agi and the way to solve such dis: Agreement isan arbitral award which both sides will) be bound." difficulty has existed for is not easy to understand why the new attempt to find a solution was made unless, of course, it was hoped that negotiation and not arbitration would be the solvent. For full information on the subject it will be necessary to wait until the terms of Mr. J. H. Thomas's announcement in. the House of Commons to-morrow are known. Both sides sympathy for, in fantastic. arithmetic attributed to. him, the Mr. de Valera w open the subject in direct ce versation with the British Government indicates the germ of more reasonable view. Whether that will survive the failure remains to be seen for, in inig the resumption of dis-ions, Mr. de Valera was taking. undoubted political risks, owing to the delicacy of his own position. His declarations in favour of a Republic cut off from the British Empire have saddled him with commitments which are all the more irksome because, in the background lurks the parallel "republican government" to which he himself belonged before he bid constitutionally for present office. Behind that is the even more revolutionary Irish Republican Army which, financed and munitioned by Moscow, is aiming at the creation of 'a Soviet administration.
Confusion has been caused by representing Mr. de. Valera's request for an "outside" member of the proposed arbitration tribunal as suggesting reference: to the Leay'te of Nations. Sucht a reference is clearly impossible. The British Government's declaration of 1929 in regard to the Court of International Justice expressly said:
Disputes with other members of the British Commonwealth of Nations are excluded - because the members of the Common though international willy in' the fullest term, are united by their common allegiance to. the Crown. Disputes between them should, therefore, be dealt with by some other mode of settlement."
This other mode was preseribthe Imperial Conference of 1930 in the shape of a Commonwealth 'Tribunal. Plainly the British Government sound ground in its contention that the provision' for arbitrate ing on the Land Annuities issue there indicated. The only point which seems to arise is whether, by agreement between the two parties concerned, the Trbjunal can be so chosen as to facilitate membership of it, in special circumstances, by a foreign representative, ' It would be a curious innovation. Adoption of it would probably re~ quire consultation with all the Dominions party to the resolution of 1930. Yet, provided certain conditions " precedent were given, it might be looked upon as nothing more than strengthening of the impartial~ ity of the award to be secured. The difficulty in the way of agreeing to Mr. de Valera's proposal is to be found in determin ing its inspiration, Tf it arises solely from doubt of an ability to obtain a competent court—from the point of view of impartiality—exelusively from the Empire, the suspicion may be regretted but it may be humour~ ed magnanimously. But, unfortunately, there is more than impression that its underlying motive is to record a gesture which, in Treland, at any rate, may be interpreted as a further move toward separation from the Empire. The British Government can hardly be expected to associate itself with such a move. It is possible that, if Mr. de Valera were willing to repudiate the separatist creed in a specific declaration, would be little objection to his proposal.
Neither party can be accused therefore of wrecking the conference merely out of considera~ tions for prestige. Mr. Thomas has to safeguard the relations of the Mother Country with the rest of the Empire. Mr. de Valera is concerned for his own ability to keep the ultra-republicans with their communist back~ ers from ousting his new administration, by terrorist force. Thus the Irish Free State's economic stability is being sacri-fied for the sake of bolstering up a Government which is weak-fened the moment it appears, to be acting according to the dictates of commonsense. It is impossible to be cheerful over the outcome. If Mr. de Valera possessed the courage to face the fact that the British Government's patient tolerance of the acts of his inexperienced administration could be used to extricate Ireland from the tyranny of the Irish Republican Army, some hope of an early solution might be entertained. He has heavily committed himself to a definite breakaway from the British Commonwealth, Even that will not placate Left Wing. The Irish Repub-Viean Army has, in the 1 months, steadily advanced i dictatorship. The price of its support will soon be so high that Mr. de Valera may have to choose between it and the Catholic Church of which he is 'a devoted son and of which the LR.A..is an open enemy. It may be that his visit to London a desperate attempt to save himself from himself by the help of Mr. Thomas. It has failed. The prospect of his being carried out of his depth by the fierce currents of communist terrorism fis by no means remote. His six
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.