sereiat' 70 THE "nes London, Apr. 2
FFICIAL Irish circles welcome the Anglo-Irish accord signed London yesterday as a big step towards a completer agree ment in the future.
It is understood that the British Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, played a big part in bringing the Agreement to fruition.
Significance of the Agreement is that it goes far beyond its contents.
It is expected that a new Anglo-Irish atmosphere and a new era of friendship and ce-operation in matters of common concern will be created.
It is expected that the Eire Government will now take over more seriously than it has done in the past the question of defence of the principal ports in Eire, It Is felt that men of goodwill on all sides will concentrate efforts on removing the partition Issue, the only remaining obstacle to Gnai conciliation of " the two peoples, and that Irishmen in North Ireland will participate In the work of appease-
The view of the Irish delegation ts that Great Britain has nothing to lose and everything to gum from a free, independent Ireland. They Point to the repeated declarations by Mr. Eamon de Valera, President of the Eecutive Council of the Irish Free Stale, that Eire will not be permitted to be used as a base.of Great Britain, and defend her sovereignty against all comers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.