asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he will inform Dáil Eireann if the resolution of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate of the United States of America, declaring all air agreements made on behalf of the United States of America null and void unless and until incorporated in treaties approved by the Senate, affects the air agreement made with Ireland at the Chicago Conference.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Agreements.
The question involves a point of American Constitutional law upon which there appears to be some difference of opinion in the United States.
I do not think that any authoritative judicial decision has been pronounced. It would not be proper for me to express an opinion, particularly as there are other agreements concerned as well as our own. We have received no communication in the matter from the American Government, and so far as we are concerned the agreement stands.
Is it the intention of the Minister for External Affairs to remain in the position of Mahomet's coffin, unless and until he hears something, or are we entitled to know where we stand? Have we an agreement or have we not?
I told the Deputy that, so far as we are concerned, the agreement stands.
I know, but that is not very much good to us, standing by an agreement on our side if the other fellow is not going to stand by the agreement on his side. It is a question of "you puts your money in and you takes your choice." Surely there is no discourtesy or incivility in asking the Government of the United States, have they an agreement with us or have they not? The only person who takes exception to that is the Taoiseach when the Commonwealth of Nations asks him is he in the Commonwealth or not. Have we an agreement or have we not? Surely our own Minister for External Affairs ought to be able to tell us?
I have told the Deputy and, in telling the Deputy, I am telling the House, that there is involved a question of American Constitutional law upon which there appears to be a difference of opinion in the United States; that no authoritative legal decision has been pronounced; that we have received no communication from the American Government and, therefore, as far as we are concerned, the agreement stands.
And you are not going to ask them?
I am not going to take any other steps to suggest there is any doubt in the matter as far as we are concerned.
Therefore, it hangs in the air with the greatest of ease, like the daring young man on the flying trapeze?