asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware that foreign policy is to be included in agenda of the forthcoming Imperial Conference, and whether he will state the circumstances which make it desirable for the Irish Free State to continue in association with the nations of the British Commonwealth in the realm of external affairs while abstaining from conference with these nations on the principles of external policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Policy.
If the Deputy will refer to my answer to a similar question put by him on the 17th February, he will see that the Imperial Conference has nothing to do with the determination of the external policy of the individual members of the Commonwealth. The matter for discussion at the Imperial Conference is foreign affairs, not foreign policy. It can mean nothing more than a noncommittal exchange of views and information.
Is that exchange of views not to take place for the purpose of arriving at agreed principles of foreign policy?
I think my statement here is accurate.
Does the President deny the statement I have just made?
I am not concerned exactly with confirming or denying the statement the Deputy makes, except in so far as it is in the form of a question.
In the light of what the President has just said about the foreign policy of this country not being in any way subject to the decision of the Imperial Conference, has it now dawned upon him that the absolute sovereignty of this country is in no way compromised by its membership of the Commonwealth of Nations, or has it taken him five years or 15 years to learn that?
If the Deputy wants to make an election speech he is quite at liberty to do so.