The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final
Court of Appeal within the British Empire. It is one of the blessings of the Empire that it should be available. The Free State has before now, notably over the case of the salaries of its civil servants, shown how little it appreciates the blessing. In past years the Southern Irish have exas- perated our tempers, so that we have been tempted to say in our haste that they should be turned out of the Empire, as unworthy to share its advantages, and it would be difficult to be patient if they should now attempt to carry a dispute of this kind over the Committee's head. Presumably, however, the Permanent Court would refuse to adjudicate, ruling that it was a domestic matter, but the ill-feeling in which the Free State seems to revel would be increased. If Canada could acquiesce in the judgment of the Judicial Committee in giving the land and wealth of Labrador to Newfoundland, one part of Ireland can, without any imagined loss of dignity submit to a decision upon the fishing rights in the few square miles of a Lough.
Previous page
