asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state if (a) during the Ottawa Conference or (b) at any other time since the dispute as to the payment of land annuities arose between the Irish Free State and British Governments any proposal or suggestion has been made by the Irish Free State Government to have the legal and/or other issues involved referred for decision or opinion to the Permanent Court at The Hague; and, if so, how such proposal or suggestion was received and resulted; and, if not so made, why not.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Hague Court and Land Annuities.
No proposal or suggestion has been made by the Government to have the legal or other issues involved in the land annuities dispute referred for decision or opinion to the Permanent Court at The Hague. As the Deputy is aware, the policy of the Government has been to retain the land annuities in this country until such time as the British Government have established a valid claim to them. The Government have always been willing to submit the issues involved for determination by an international tribunal. The British Government, however, have declined to accept arbitration by such a body. Neither have they invoked the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court. In our view the onus of invoking the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court at The Hague lies upon the party making the claim.
Inasmuch as suggestions have been made by the Irish Free State Government with regard to this dispute nevertheless we are to understand now that no suggestion as to invoking the aid of the Permanent Court of The Hague has ever been made?
No.
Was there any reason why it should not be made?
Not by the Irish Free State.
Why not?
It is up to the party making the claim to bring a case there.
Is the country to continue to suffer the hardships of an economic war because the Irish Free State Government will not make up its mind to put forward a particular claim and see whether it will be accepted?