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Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1927, Page 2

TukrK is trouble owe more in Ireland, and once again that stormy petrel, Do Valera, is at the 'bottom of it. That indefatigable agitator came back from the United States a few months ago “loaded down with dollars,” and the money lie collected there has proved a useful fighting fund. De Valera has still sufficient, prestige among the Trish-Amorirans, notes an exchange, to secure a- generous response to his appeals, and the effects of his campaign, first in thp United States and later in Ireland, are to he seen in the returns published for the Bail elections. The Free Staters are still the largest single party in the Bail. But De Valera and his Republicans number 44 against Cosgrave’s 40, and the other parties could adjust themselves in such a way as to leave the C'osgra.ve Government in a minority of 10. Cosgrave therefore very properly declined to form a Govenment, and the situation was certainly very complicated and interesting. But the majority stood by Mr Cosgrave, who is again elected President. The crux of the present crisis i.s what Mr De Valera calls the “penal oath.” At first the Republicans .simply refused to take the oalli of allegiance provided for in the Treaty, ami did not attend the sessions of the Bail. But now- De Valera, in the strength of his recent victories at the poll, is taking a bolder tone. “The deputies supporting me,” be says proudly, “will never take the oatli of allegiance,” and be predicts the speedy removal of this dishonouring badge of servitude. Of course, it is useless to expect logical opinions from De Valera. but one naturally wonders whether he expects Britain to remain entirely apathetic and quiescent if the Republicans carry out their threat. Meantime, one can only regret that the turn of Fortune's wheel has brought De Valera, to the front again. How could the people of Ireland prefer the frantic rhetoric of this incoherent agitator to the statesmanlike utterances and the genuinely patriotic policy of Cosgrave and his colleagues? Of course, the traditional hatred of Britain is still strong; the partition and the separate Parliament for UJsjter are still bitterly resented; and the failure of the Free State to realise the exaggerated hopes and aspirations of the people has probably helped to unbalance their judgment. It is a poor return for all that Mr Cosgrave and the Free Staters hare done for Ireland.