NATIONAL ANTHEM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 25 July 1929, Page 8

NATIONAL ANTHEM

RECENT HUSH INCIDENT GOVERKOR-GENERAL'S BAN EFFECT ON TRINITY COLLEGE The strange refusal of the GovernorGeneral of 'the Irish Free Slats, Mr James Mac Neill, to have "God Save the King" played in his honour, and his preference for "The Soldier's Song," are discussed at some length by I lie Dublin correspondent of the Manchester "Guardian,' who writes: A. deplorable controversy has arisen in Dublin from, the decision off the Governor-General 10. refuse the customary invitation to attend the Trinity College races—the . chief social event in Dublin University's year. The circumstances are as follows: Under the old regime the custom was for thy Lord Lieutenant to lie received at •• the college races by a baud playing "God Save the Kiu.g." and since tin.', establishment of I lie Free State the G«jvernorGeuerals. both Mr Mealy and Mr .MacNeill, have been welcomed in the college nark in I lie same manner. No objection had previously been raised to tins procedure, but this year, after ihe issue of the invitation, the college committee in charge of the sports received a- message to the effect that the Govoraoi' Central would be unable to accept Hie invitation unless "God Save the King" was dropped in favour of "The Soldier's Song," a modern composition which first attracted attention during the Easter Week rising of .1916 and has recently been treated by the Free State Cabinet as the National Anthem of the Free State. The college committee secretary inqujrecl whether there was any prospect- of negotiating a compromise on the basis of having both anthems .played, but it was made clear that "God Save

the. King" must be definitely omitted. Steps were thereupon taken to explain respectfully to Mr MucNeilJ that the interests of the community must, suffer if in "receiving tho Governor-General it omitted to show the customary mark of loyalty to the Sovereign and courtesy to his representative. Mr Mac Neill thereupon solved the difficulty by expressing his rejgrcl' that the Governor-General would be unable to attend the races. COLLEGE IN QUANDARY The matter might well have been left, there, but the Belfast Unionist press got hold of the. facts and naturally displayed n'n interest in theni. As a counterblast there has now appeared in tin; Irish 'lndependent'' an attack on the attitude of 'he college authorities. This opens with the misleading headline "T.C.D, ban on 'The Soldier's Song'," the tact being that the college committee never banned ."The Soldier's Song," and is guilty merely of having remonstrated agaiusl tin' decision to ban "God Save the King." • Isul the. sting of the "Independent's;" attack is in its'tail,-for tho writer concludes with the obviously; inspired statement- that "a very serious view Is taken of the. attitude, of T.tXD. in this matter"—presumably by the Free (State Cabinet. The position of the university is interesting and difficult.. The, GovernorGeneral must be presumed t« have acted on the advice of the Free Stale Cabinet. The university can ill afford to quarrel with -Mr Oosgrave's Cabinet, seeing that .Mr de Valera is not likely to be. more friendly. It can still less afford to break with the old traditions and (hereby offend its own alumni past and present, to whom lather than to. any Government it must look Tor support. Dublin University was founded by Queen 151 izabelli, has over 300 years' tradition behind it. and is the university not of the free Stale but of all. IrelaiiiL. It- has always sent a large proportion, of its students to serve , the. King in all parts of the Jirilish Empire. Its welfare, depends upon its ability to continue (o do .so, and since Jhe uufversity is still under tlie ban of the Catholic hierarchy its welfare depends also upon its ability Uj 'continue to attract students from the l Protestant north-east. A departure from precedent which could reasonably be regarded as a. definite break with the old tradition of the university would cost it sympathy and sup. port which it cannot, afford to Joso. THE LINK WITH THE CROWN Apart from that, the university feels itself to be the. only institution which adequately represents the... Anglo-Irish tradition in the Free State. The treaty, is a compromise belweentUe.Anglo-Irish arid the separatist ideals, and the provision for the appointment of a, Govern nor-General was one of the few concessions to the .Anglo-Irish embodied in it. By the treaty the Governor-General is plainly intended'to be not merely Ihp executive head of the Free State, but representative of the link' which still connects the Free "State with Great Britain. The university accordingly feels that it is a breach of the spirit- of the treaty to refuse permission to welcome the Governor-General in the grounds of the university with that anthem 'which reminds the hearers of the preservation of the connecting link and to insist upon the. substitution of another anthem which cannot lull waken but painful memories of the struggle, to destroy it. It is difficult to see what the' Free State Cabinet hope to gain by this attack upon the traditional attachments of the university. Apparently their action must be ascribed to the ambition which tempts so many patriotic Governments to seek to remodel men's political ideas after an approved nationalist design.