IRISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1927, Page 3

IRISH AFFAIRS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. OOSGRAVE’S MANIFESTO. LONDON, Aug. 26. President Cosgravo has issued a statement to the ed'ect that the. Government could not hope to carry out its programme under the present conditions. There was no margin of safety. He remarked that file three Parties forming an alliance—the Laboui, Finnna Fail, and National League Parties—had nothing in common, except desire to defeat the present Government. Such a defeat might mean unstable government which would .proceed to tamper with the treaty in defiance of a specific undertaking to the contrary l>y two of the parties to the alliance. President Cosgrave continued that another serious consideration was that a national loan must be issued in November. It was essential that the political position should be cleared up at least a iinonth before this appeal to the investing public. No unstable combination could hope to borrow on umsosiibje forms. Under these circumstances, tho people must be given the opportunity of facing the new situation, and of stating their views.

A MASTER STROKE. LONDON, Aug. 26

President Cosgrave’s action in going to the country, is regarded as a master stroke. The dissolution took all tho Parties by 'surprise, and it has cause a first-class sensation in Dublin. The dominating factors of the decision were the size of the Government candidates’ majorities at the byeelections; the difficulty, nevertheless, of carrying on with only a small margin in the House; and the illness of the three Government deputies. Finally it 'is essential that the national loan shall he issued before January, which, in view of the deadlock, could only be done at present on ,unreasonable terms. It has now .been decided to issue the lpan in November. It is anticipated that this general election will lie the hardest ever fought in Irejapd. The nominations are due on the third of September. The Parties immediately convened midnight meetings on hearing the news jof the dissolution. The main election issues will inevitably be the questions of taking the oath and the Public Safety Bill.

DE VALERA'S HOPES. LONDON, Aug. 26. Mr Eamonn De Valera (Leader of the Fianna Fail Party), in an interview, accused the Government or fihurp practice. Ho said: “They will find that tho Fianna Fail are not quite so unprepared as they think. Mr De Valera added: “I am confident that tho forces of Irish Ireland will stand shoulder to shoulder in this final battle against imperialism.”