"His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom has considered the position created by the new Constitu tion, which the Irish Free State Parliament approved in June, 1937, and which came into force on Decem ber 29," says an official statement issued from 10 Downing Street to-day.
he British Government," it continues, is prepared to treat the new Constitution as not effecting a fundamental alteration in the position of the Irish Free State, henceforth to b: described under the new Constitution as Eire or Ireland, as a member of Mei tion Attempts Certain Powers. it is reliably learned, are again active in attempts at mediation, but owing to the failure of the previous attempt and also the small likelihood of success in the present venture, all Chinese circles here are maintaining strict silence. It is far too early. they contend, to give any information at the present juncture, and premature publicity, they fear. ma kill whatever little chance of success exists, Chinese circles are anxious to have further elucidation of General Matsui's statement. They want to know the "real meaning" of his assurance that Japan has no territorial ambitions in China and wants to give China time to consider her attitude, General Matsui's statement, they point out, seems hardly compatible with the Japanese occupation of Tsinan. the advance of the Japanese forces towards Tsingtao, the establishment of the so-called Provisional Government at Peiping, and the ultimatum delivered to General Hsi-shan, Governor of Shansi. to sever his connection with the Central Government and ce-operate with the Japanese on pain of extermination.
The opinion is generally expressed in Chinese circles that peace or continuation of the war depends largely on the sincerity of the Japanese military to carry out their assurances to respect China's territorial and administrative integrity. Without such respect, they declare, no peace is possible.—Reuter, the British Commonwealth of Nations.
"His Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom has ascertained that His Majesty's Go. ^rnments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are also prepared so to treat the new Constitution."
The United Kingdom Government, the statement proceeds, cannot rec-agnize that the adoption of the name Eire, or Ireland, or any other prov sion in Articles LI, III and IV of the new Constitution, involved any right to the territory, or to jurisdiction over territory forming part of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland or, in any case, affects the position of Northern Ireland as an integral part of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
"It, therefore, regards the use of the name Eire, or Ireland, in this connection as relating only to that area hitherto known as the Irish Free State," the statement concludes, Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.