New-York tribune., 1922-07-02
Joy in Britain
Over Victory
OF Free State
Means Clearing Up of Irish
Situation and Il Great
Relief to London States.
men: Army Work Aplentv
From The 7ysoune,s rnropea. s.,,..,

from The Tribnne's Europe0, gy,eo.
| Copyright. 1922, New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, July 1.-The British "a
action to the victory Of the Free sta.s
troops over the Irish irregulars in n.
Four Courts building in Dublin is IN.
doubtedly one Of great relief. AZ "a
statesman cares to contemplate n.
| task Of the British army reoccuuv;,,
Ireland. Lloyd Georges eoveynment
watched the course OF events in DubG,
with almost as much anxiety as did
Michael Colli1s and his colleagues a,
the provisional government
A decisive victory Of the Free Sta.a
! forces not only means clearing I'd a
the situation in Ireland. but decid.3
| Improvement in the position OF tha
British government, which has been
far from satisfactory since the assax.
sination OF Sir Henry Hughes Wilson
The army is prepared to undertake tbs
task, bat Downing Street statesmen
have been as serious since Wednesday
as If great battle Of the late war wa,
being waged and profound issues hang.
Ing in the balance.
The political aspects Of ehe Dublin
battle are regarded as infinitely great.
er than the actual fighting and the de.
Struction Of the Four Courts is a cheao
price to pay II it brings about the over.
throw of the extremists Col!ins'.
position has been painfully unstable,
and as he Is unquestionably the real
head Of the Free State movement that
government has been extremely weak.
Even the great vote in favor Of the
treaty tho ali IaS% ~
situation far from satisfactory. So
long as Ireland harbored determined
bands which were prepared to employ
force rather than constitutional meth.
DDS the Collins government was obvi.
ous!y under tremendous handicap.
The republican faction contains soma
OF the best brains Of Ireland and Col.
Inns did his best to enlist them on his
side. There never was any question
of his courage, but it took more than
courage to put the interests Of Ire.
land above his regard for his asso-
ciates.
Since the storming of the Fou,
Courts Collins has been embarrassed
by charges that he was compelled to
act by the British government. Colo
NAL Secretary Churchill's strong
speech in Parliament was responsible
for the charge, which was Of ltt.
consequence outside Of Ireland, bu.
tremendously important there. where
even the Free Staters regard England
as an enemy. The only thing which
really counts in the opinion OF British
statesmen is that Collins has accepted
the republican challenge and struck
the first blow. The defeat OF the
republican forces now will mean tina.
for months at least the FREQ S,a,sys
need fear no armed interference with
provided under the draft constitution.
There will be plenty of work for
the Free State army. but it will be a
different kind. De Valera. Mellowes
and other republican leaders of their
type know when it is wise to take
holiday, and however much they may
detest the constitution they are un.
likely to butt their heads against 8
stone wall.
Another phase of the situation I,
that if Collins establishes his leader.
ship in Ireland relations with Ulster
will improve. A strong government in
the south will have the support of III.
imperial government and Ulster will
be much more reasonable. Lloyd
Georges position is dependent TO
large extent upon his Irish policy and
Collins has its workings in his hands.
There will be q general election in
this country at no distant date and
comparatively settled Ireland will mean
all TIE difference in the world 10 the
place to optimism and only the die
hards" now believe the treaty will be
broken and the British army sent TO
Ireland