THE NEW DAIL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 15

THE NEW DAIL.

MR COSGRAVE RE-ELECTED

PRESIDENT.

DE VALERA SPEAKS IN IRISH, (FBOm'* OUB OW* COEBESPONMirr.)

LONDON, October 19. Owing to the support of the Fanners' Party and eleven Independents, Mr Cosgrave obtained a majority of irotes .at the opening meeting of the Dail. Mr Cosgrave's nomination as President was opposed by the Fianna Fail Party, and the Labour Party, but no other nomination was put forward. Had the six members of the Farmers" Party not thrown their weight on the side of tho Government the voting would have again been equal. Mr De Valera was early m his seat. He rarely spoke to any of his colleagues, and left the case for the Opposition to be stated by Mr Sean T. O'Kelly Apparently, Mr de Valera, and his followers have decided to speak whenever possible in Irish, although it is understood by only a small proportion of the Deputies. Mr De Valera was the first to use this language, when, on the election of the Speaker, Mr Michael Hayes, he uttered the protest against the salary attaching to the office of £I7OO a year. He intimated that at the first opportunity they would move that it is reduced by £7OO per annum. The Opposition, Mr O'Kelly followed the example of his chief and began his 6peech in Irish. He opposed Mr Cosgrave's nomination for twenty minutes in Irish and then relapsed into English. "Upon no conceivable ground that 1 can imagine could he receive the votes of the deputies of this assembly," said Mr O'Kelly. He spoke scathingly of Mr Cosgrave's record. Emigration, he said, was the only industry which had thriven in the oountry during tho last five years. He spoke of the "awful horrors, sorrow, and anguish for which Mr Cosgrave's policy had been responsible."

Mr Cosgrave leaned back in his seat as inscrutable as the Sphinx. One of the occupants of the front bench sneered audibly, and Mr O'Kelly burst out with the remark, "You may sneer now because you are safe. I hope you will continue to be safe." He was going on to say that things were not quite so safe a few years ago, when there were loud cries of "Hear, hear," from Mr Cosgrave's supporters. Mr O'Kelly seemed to relent, and added, softly, "Perhaps it is not helpful to hark back. I don't want to start on a bitter note, though God knows I have justification in thinking of my 76 comrades lying in their cold graves." This remark was met with the query of members on the Government side of the House, "And whao of oursP" Labour Party's Attitude.

Mr T. J. O'Connell, the newly appointed leader of the Labour Party, followed, and made it clear that Labour members would also vote against the proposal. He said that Mr Cosgrave hod exhibited an "almost indecent desire to hang on to his office." "We have no alliance with Fianna Fail, or any other Party," said Mr O'Connell, "and we should want definite assurance on several matters before we give our support to Fianna Fail. "We should require,'' he added, looking over at Mr De Valera. "an assurance that the Treaty upon which this State is founded would only he altered by the authority of a majority of this Parliament."

j Mr Blythe, Minister for Finance, rc- ! plied for the Government, and declared that at all times the dbjcct of Mr Oosgrave's policy had been to promote the interests of Ireland and Irish nationality, i The division, which took plaoe after j a discussion lasting three hours, result- ! Ed as follows: — j For the,.motion ... ... 76

I Against ••• 70 ■ Mr Cosgrave was accordingly reelected by a majority of six.