Evening star., 1932-07-23
Eng land and Ireland Amaze
America by Economic Fight

Public opinion stands amazed at the
economic war that threatens between
Great Britain and Ireland. The merits
Of the case are considered as not having
sufficient weight to justify so serious an
upset to the trade relations Of the two
countries in these unprecedented times
Of hardship in the world.
The situation Is thus analyzed by the
Toledo Blade: "a moratorium on an
nuities owed by the Irish Free State to
Great Britain is declared by Eamonn de
Valera. The amount due Is disputed
and, the Irish President says, economic
conditions are such that payment Is
impossible. Great Britain picks up the
shillalah and slaps 100 per cent tariff
on imports from ireland, chiefly meat
and other food supplies. In justi-
fication Of the retaliatory measure it
has taken. the British Parliament ex-
plains that Great Britain financed a
huge deal, by which British land own
ers turned over their extensive holdings
to Irish Free State farmers, with stipu-
lation for payment on the installment
plan. The bargain is not denied. That
is down in black and white" The
Blade, however points out further:
But neither can there be any question
Of the war debts owed by some Euro
pean nations to the United States. At
this time, In these countries, as in
| Ireland, the ability to pay has been
! situation" The Ohio paper concludes
| that the whole question Should be re-
| examined in all its aspects in order that
it may be determined whether the Free
| States moral obligation to pay has not
been modified by world conditions be-
yond the control Of any one nation"
As to the method of this examina-
| tion, however, the two countries are at
odds. Ireland is willing to submit the
| question to arbitration, but only to an
international commission, in the
meantime paying the annuities into
an impounded fund.-" as stated by the
Boston Transcript. while to this propo-
sition 'the British government re-
Sponds that 1t will submit 1t to an
arbitration Of the British dorninions but
fRe Transcrpt rHJsgp po,nes ou
"Such a solution, of course, involves
Irish assent to the main proposition
that it is definitely still within the
empire. The position taken by Mr.
de Valera and his government duly
constituted by the people Of the Irish
! Free State is that Ireland is practically
independent The question. What is
the peaceful solution?" interests the
Transcript.
Conceding that "for each of the
steps in this suicidal conflict po-
litical spe1lbinder can, no doubt, make
| what, In its immediate setting. seems
a plausible case" the Baltimore Sun
comments: 1T is said that Mr.. de
Valera has some impressive legal back
ing for the position that the Free State
should not pay the land annuities, and
his party has long taken that position.
row in needleSsly provocative terms. to
have the British government hastily ac-
cept the challenge on the same emo
tional plane and rush into battle
which, regardless Of the plausibility Of
each particular step. presents. in total,
a clear case of suicidal madness" That
"it would be the height of folly for
Ireland to martyr herself under the
present sorry condition Of the world
over issues that lend themselves readily
to negotiation and arbitration" is the
contention of the Providence Evening
Bulletin, which also feels, however, that
1T would be nonSensical for Great Brit
ain to pursue the economic war further
if a settlement can be reached"
X X X
The Danbury Evening News sees the
Free State as "the greater loser" and
declares that unless a much-to-be-de
sired compromise can be reached be-
| tween the two countries it means that
10 years of peaceful government and
| friendly relations between Britain and
the Free State that marked the Co.'S
grave administration are to be lightly
thrown away and the Free States eco
nomic difficulties rendered more acute" {"