“ Canada, Australia and New Zealand have voluntarily asked the British Parliament to make reservations in their regard. It is quite clear that these reservations will disappear the moment these States express the desire, but at the present moment the Irish Free State and South Africa are the only two States of the Commonwealth, besides Great Britain, whose Parliaments can exercise an undisputed plenitude of powers. Their juridical equality with Great Britain is complete. ”

“ Leaders of opinion in England have come to realize that the continuance of friendly co-operation amongst the Members of the Commonwealth group has no other solid basis than that precise degree of freedom which each Member wishes to have for itself. ”

“ In accordance with the terms of Article 1 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, I have the honour to request that the Free State of Ireland may be admitted as a Member of the League of Nations, and that this request may be placed on the agenda of the next Meeting of the Assembly of the League.
The Government of the Irish Free State is prepared to accept the conditions laid down in Article 1 of the Covenant, and to carry out all obligations involved in Membership of the League. ”