HC Deb 01 February 1938 vol 331 cc7-9
17. Mr. Lunn

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any statement to make as to the relations between this country and the Irish Free State?

19. Mr. Graham White

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what progress has been made in the settlement of questions outstanding with the Government of the Irish Free State?

The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)

The new Constitution which was approved by the Parliament of the Irish Free State in June, 1937, came into force on 29th December. Hon. Members will be familiar with the terms of the announcement issued to the Press at the time, in the course of which the attitude to the new Constitution of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and of His Majesty's Governments in the other Dominions, was set out. A series of meetings was held a fortnight ago between representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom and representatives of the Government of Eire to discuss outstanding questions which affect the relations between the two countries. These meetings were devoted to preliminary examination of the questions involved and at their conclusion an agreed statement was issued to the effect that while no agreement had yet been reached upon any of the questions discussed, it was felt that the discussions had proceeded far enough to justify a more detailed examination of a number of points by officials of the respective Governments. This examination is now proceeding, and pending its completion, the meetings of Ministers have been suspended, to be resumed as soon as the necessary data are available for further conversations.

Mr. Lunn

Are the two Governments discussing the whole of the points of difficulty between them; and is there any possibility of a settlement being arrived at upon those points?

Mr. MacDonald

The major questions are all under discussion, and it would be premature to hazard any guess as to whether any agreement is likely or not.

Sir William Davison

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government propose to recognise the claim of the Free State Government to be known as the Government of Ireland, seeing that there is a Government of Northern Ireland?

Hon. Members

Eire.

Mr. Thurtle

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the new Irish Constitution afrects in any way the status of citizens of the Irish Free State as citizens of the British Empire?

Mr. Speaker

That clearly does not arise from the question on the Paper.

Mr. Logan

Apart from the question of partition, is it possible to make any statement with regard to the financial position; and in regard to the cattle trade on the Merseyside, is it likely that an arrangement may be considered in regard to that position?

Mr. MacDonald

It is not possible to make any statement. All these questions are under consideration now.

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