asked the Minister for External Affairs if he has seen a report of a speech made by an Irish delegate at the United Nations urging that adequate standards of literacy be attained by trust territories before considering them for independence, cautioning against cutting a territory loose to shift for itself as a new nation before it is prepared to do so and, in using Ireland as an illustration, stating that the responsibilities of independence threatened the foundation of the new State; and if this speech represents the policy of the Government towards trust territories and reflects the mind of the Government as to the ability of this country to endure the responsibilities of independence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trust Territories: Irish Delegate's U.N.O. Speech.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy.
As a member of the United Nations, Ireland is a trustee of certain territories which are still under the control of non-native Governments, and has the honour this year of holding the chair of the Special Trustee Committee.
Certain of these territories, as the Deputy is no doubt aware, are inhabited for the most part by tribes who are completely illiterate, who cannot understand the language of other tribes in the area, who have had little or no contact with modern civilisation, and who have had no experience of administration beyond the administration of tribal affairs.
As a general principle, we hold, as I stated in a speech at the United Nations, that "Powers which are in forcible occupation of foreign territories must declare their willingness to withdraw at the earliest practicable date to be fixed in agreement with the United Nations."
As one of those responsible for the territories still under the trusteeship of the United Nations, it is our duty to advocate that the inhabitants of those territories should be educated, and given experience in administration, so that they may be able as quickly as possible to govern themselves in an orderly, efficient and democratic manner.
In the speech referred to by the Deputy, the Irish representative emphasised that even Ireland, with all its well-known advantages of literacy, ancient culture, democratic traditions and experienced administrators, encountered great difficulties in meeting the problems of the modern world after the achievement of partial independence. He stressed how much more necessary it is that the peoples such as the inhabitants of the trust territories should receive the training necessary to enable them to make good use of the independence, which we advocate should be given to them with all possible speed.
In answer to the last part of the Deputy's question, I may say that in a number of States which achieved independence in recent times democracy has broken down and authoritarian régimes have taken over. However, as we successfully surmounted the efforts that were made at establishing authoritarian régimes here, and as our Constitution is now generally accepted by all Parties in the Dáil, I feel confident that the democratic independence of the Twenty-Six Counties is reasonably assured, and that we will ultimately extend that independence to the whole of Ireland.
In conclusion, I wish to say that the speech to which this question refers was generally regarded as the best ever delivered in the United Nations on the subject of trustee territories. It was written and delivered by one of the team of brilliant young representatives which Ireland has the good fortune to have in New York.
The full text of the speech can be found in the Library, and I am sure that all the Deputies who read it will be as proud of it as I am.
In the long and rather tendentious reply which the Minister has given, he has failed to deal with the reason this question was put down. Is it a fact that our representative in the United Nations used, in relation to this country, the argument that the British used in 1920, that we were not fit for self-government?
The Deputy, following Deputy McGilligan's allegations in this question, is undoubtedly following the lines of a tendentious report published in the Sunday Review. I want to say that we attempted to give the Irish people, through the columns in which the allegations were made, the full truth, but it was not published. Deputies can discover that for themselves by looking up the paper in question and considering this statement which I issued at the time to the Sunday Review:—
"The Minister for External Affairs was aware beforehand and approved of the views expressed by Mr. E.L. Kennedy, Counsellor of the Irish Delegation to the United Nations, in his speech of 5th November in the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the report of the Trusteeship Council. There is, therefore, no truth whatever in the allegation contained in the sensational head-lines in the Sunday Review of 9th November that Mr. Kennedy's speech ‘embarrassed the Government.’
"It is, of course, Ireland's duty in the United Nations to press for the development in the territories under United Nations trusteeship of the conditions necessary for stable, progressive and democratic government. This, indeed, is the whole object of the U.N. trusteeship system which is intended, in the words of the Charter ‘to promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the trust territories, and their progressive development towards self-government or independence as may be appropriate to the particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned.'
"Some peoples are still in a nomadic or tribal stage of development and not only have a low rate of literacy but have no experience of administration. It would be wrong and contrary to the principles of the Charter for the Irish Delegation to lend, or to appear to lend, support to those who would play politics with the lives of such peoples, by demanding that they be immediately and without preparation of any kind thrown on their own resources.
"Some countries which gained their independence in recent years, and which were much more highly developed than these trust territories have had great difficulty in setting up efficient and smoothly-running institutions to meet the needs of their peoples and to compete with the highly developed industry and agriculture of old and long-established States. Indeed in several of them the democratic processes of government have foundered and have been replaced by dictatorial or authoritarian rule.
"The United Nations trusteeship system is intended to protect the peoples of the trust territories from tyranny and exploitation and to ensure not only that these peoples will attain independence and self-determination as soon as possible but that they will receive from the trustee powers the educational facilities and the administrative experience without which progressive, democratic government is impossible in the difficult and dangerous world we live in to-day."
I asked the Minister whether the fact was that our representative in the United Nations cited Ireland as an example of a country which was not ready for self-government, whether he went on to say, as reported in the Evening Press, that the responsibilities of independence threatened the foundation of the new State. Since the new State was threatened, I should like to know from the Minister whether our delegate in speaking, cited Ireland as an example of a country which was not fit for self-government?
No.
I would ask the Minister to answer that question succinctly.
The reply I have given and the statement I have read out— which was not published—answer that question. If we were dealing with the matter here and if it were merely an internal affair, we might have something to say and something to remind the Deputy and his friends about, something which I do not think should be said in the United Nations——
Would the Minister forget his bigotry and answer the question clearly?
In view of the fact that he stated that the new Constitution in 1937 had been accepted by all in this country and that that acceptance led to stabilising life here, how does he reconcile that with his attempt now to change the Constitution?
The Constitution provides in its own terms for change in an orderly way.
I think I am entitled to find out from the Minister whether it was a fact that this country's representative in that speech as reported in the Evening Press did cite Ireland as an example of a country which was not fit for self-government?
That is not true.
Then, will the Minister ensure that the Taoiseach, as controlling director of the Evening Press, sees that this report is corrected?
That was not in the Evening Press or in anything else. It is only some of the O'Higgins denigration of the Irish people——
(Interruptions.)
Order!
In view of one remark in the Minister's answer, I should like to ask him whether our representatives abroad have instructions that they are to suggest that as in other countries, attempts were made in Ireland dictatorially to overthrow or to interfere with the Government set up by the people? Will he say if that is so and, if so, what is the reference?
If the Deputy wants to go into that, I shall go into it——
I do not want to go into it; I just want to be clear on that point.
If the Deputy wants to know what I had in mind in my reply it was the Blue Shirts——
(Interruptions.)
A Deputy
The Irregulars.
——and the suppression of the Dáil proceedings on June 30th, 1922.
Will the Minister say whether our representatives have instructions to bear these matters in mind and make representations in reference to them when dealing with other countries abroad?
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I should like permission to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I should be delighted to hear what you have to say.
We should be delighted to hear you say something.
I shall communicate with the Deputy in the course of the afternoon.