The British Government last night issued a statement of its attitude to the new Constitution of the Irish Free State, which came into force yesterday.
It declares that it is ╥prepared to treat the new Constitution as effecting no fundamental alteration╙ in the position of ╥Eire╙ or ╥Ireland,╙ the name the Free State has now assumed, as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and that Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa take the same view.
It cannot recognise that the adoption of the name Eire or Ireland or any other provision of the new Constitution affects the position of Northern Ireland ╥as an integral part of the United Kingdom.╙
The religious and military ceremonies arranged to mark the coming into force of the new Constitution took place in Dublin and other parts of Southern Ireland yesterday without incident. In Dublin Mr. De Valera and his Ministers drove with an escort of cavalry to the Pro-Cathedral for a Votive Mass, and there were special Protestant and Jewish services. Salutes were fired, and at all barracks there were military parades.
Lord Craigavon, Premier of Northern Ireland, in a statement last night declared that Ulster loyalists regarded the British announcement with profound satisfaction and deeply deplored the affront to the King offered by the omission of any reference to him in the new Constitution.
MR. DE VALERA ON IRELAND╒S INDEPENDENCE
Irish people ╥both you who are in Ireland and you who are in exile,╙ were addressed last night by Mr. De Valera, speaking from Athlone. He was introduced by an announcer who said: ╥Hello, America! This is Ireland calling on the first day of the new Constitution. You will now hear the head of the Government, Mr. De Valera, who is now styled An Taoiseach.╙ Mr. De Valera began to speak but was interrupted by the playing of the Irish National Anthem. When this was ended he began again.
╥Although not designed, a singular appropriateness marks the moment at which the national Constitution comes into operation. It is the season of peace and goodwill. I hope and pray that the spirit of this season will remain with our country in the new era into which it is passing. I hope and pray that with the Constitution, our country will have a new life of peaceful and ordered progress, in friendship with our neighbours and the other races of the world.
╥I have come before you to-night to ask you to dwell with me for a little while on the important event which has now taken place. I have chosen this method of speaking to you, to each one of you in your homes, both you who are in Ireland and you who are in exile, in order that, united as members of one great family, children of the same Motherland, we may irrespective of any party differences appreciate together what has been accomplished, and take council for future efforts so that the fair promise which this moment holds for our country may be completely fulfilled.╙
THE ╥UNITY OF NATIONAL
TERRITORY╙
In the long discussions which had taken place on the technical details of the new mechanism, there was some danger of the deep and vital significance of the Constitution not being sufficiently realised, continued Mr. De Valera. He recalled that in his broadcast on Christmas Eve he had spoken of the centuries of sorrow and anguish through which the national had passed, and of the times when it could hardly have been thought that they could survive.
╥Picture the organisation of new Constitution this morning! In it the traditional aspirations of our people for national independence, national unity, and the unfettered control of our domestic and foreign affairs have been set as the basic principle of the law by which we are henceforth to be governed.
╥Within this Constitution the unity of national territory can be restored. Within it the people╒s right to enter into, determine, or maintain any relationship with other nations which may be open to them can be freely exercised. Within it any man or group of men commanding the support of a majority in the national Parliament can legally carry through any programme in the domain of our interval or external relations which he or they may conceive to be in the national interest. The new Constitution is not dependent upon any theory of constitutional relationship with, or subject to, any other group of countries.╙
He appealed to the Irish people, and ╥especially those who in the past differed from the majority in their political opinions,╙ to let all former differences disappear in the common name of ╥Irishman.╙ ╥Our country is dear to all of you; and all of you are needed to bring her to the destiny which we believe can be hers. Our nation seeks to injure no other nation or people. We want nothing that is not ours by every title of justice and right.╙
