IRISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1927, Page 3

IRISH AFFAIRS

(Australian it X.Z. Cable Association. IRISH ELECTIONS. LONDON, Sept. 11. President Cosgrove, in his final address before the Free State Elections, reminds the electors that on their vote tm Thursday depends not only the life, honour and prosperity of the I'rec State, but the people’s individual security and comfort. Those who were misguided enough to support the Government’s opponents, he said, were condemning the country, at best, to hei'ploss uncertainty, and, at the worst,' to anarchy and confusion for years to come.

IRISH AFFAIRS. (Received this day at 9.110 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 14. In view of the cnbi'es from Archbishop Mannix, commenting on De Valera’s earlier election policy, special interest attaches to De Valera’s new guise of constitutionalist, especially his virtual abandonment of his June declaration that Ulster must be punished for persisting in maintaining independence. The most piquant incident of tho campaign was furnished by De Valera’s answers to a series of questions submitted by E. P. Culverwell, Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dubi'in. In tho first place he asked, —Does punishing mean economic war? Dc Valera replied he really meant that Free Staters must look after their own interests. (This is regarded as a veiled hint of tariff action.) Dc Valera added that there is no power to force Ulster in and there could not be war against Ulster while England was backing her. Furthermore be was more concerned with Irish interests than English. They could not force English warships to quit Irish ports, but they did not consent to occupation.

In this connection Cul’verwell had asked would De Valera resort to lorce to expel the warships. The general impression is that Cosgrave’s chances have improved, especially as the Farmers’ Party decreed their second preferences are to be east in favour of Cosgravo’s followers.