REMOVAL OF OATH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 155, 23 February 1932, Page 5

REMOVAL OF OATH

PEACEEUL EFFORTJS TOWARD COMPLETE NATION AL ; , INDEPENDENGEq . f LAW TO flEPLACE VIOLENQE LOND ON,' ' Stih^a^r. ■- ■' ' • »*• H" «tt V" n*>»' n»-,; . _Mr. Eara.onn,t.de.,yaler£|, %interjVdeyy•pdj gaid he .conld nbt se^. how.,t^gj^rp|posal ,to; r§move fhe ogt^l.wgs ,'iilcg|y" tjq lead fo., diificulty yyitii^ Englan^. The.„oath .was not . qbji'gatpry jn ;i;hp Treaty, only by. the constitution. The alternative to thejeremovgl of the oath was coercion, which had been tried over a'century and failed. He added: "We propose to goverr. by ordinary law, and to replace viplence by peaceful efforts toward complete independence, We intend to withhold the land annuities. It is too early to say if the Free State will be represented at Ottawa, but we are prepared to negotiate trade agreements with England, with wbom we desire to live peacefully." The "Observer" suggests that a strong hody of opinion in Ireland favours a national Government similar to the British, with a neutral personage as President, only essential matters being placed before the Dail. Mr. de Valera is unlikely to aecept this course. The "Sunday Times" says: "We need not he apprehensive, though we should not ignore the dangers. If the oath is abolished tbe wisest course will probably be to let tbe effect operate automatically. The Free State would cease to be a Dominion and soutbern Irishmen living in England would become aliens, wbile tbe tariif preferences would be forfeited.'' Mrs. May Reynolds, the widow of the Government eanaidate wlio was shot earlier in the month, has been adopted as a candidate in her husband's former constituency. There are 13 candidates for seven seats in tbe Sligo-Leitrim Division, in which tbe contests were postponed on account of tbe shooting of Mr. Reynolds and Defective McGeeban, at Foxfield.

The posibilities are tliat Labour will uphold the treaty and will agree to no cliange except by friendly negotiation with Britain. It appears tliere ■ fore on tlie figures tliat Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, if he wishes, would have as good a chance of coming to an arrangement with Labour as bas Mr. de Valera. Oue factor that beconies increas-

ingly important is the attitude of the Ronian Catholic authorities who are anxious for a cairn political atmosphere for the Eucharistic Congress in June.