Evening star., 1934-06-17

members, who, whatever their internal
dissensions, had one common motive.
which was to make government i'm
possible.
1t was this fact that led many of
those who had no passion for home
rule for Ireland to advocate it as the
only means of obtaining home rule
for England, and since the goal has
been achieved it is probably true to
say that England is more satisfied with
the result than Ireland itself. Apart
from the periodic reminders of the
Irish sweepstakes. it is extraordinarily
Indifferent to Irish affairs, and the
policy of Eamon De Valera, so far
from reviving interest, has tended to
increase that indifference. Nothing
I think is further from the mind OF
any section of opinion on this side
of st. Georges Channel than the idea
Of intervening again on the other side.
1t is unfortunate that this fact is
not appreciated by Mr.. De Valera, for
his anti-British obsession vitiates and
perplexes everything that he does. This
is apparent in the latest phase Of his
policy. His bill for the abolition Of
the rish Free State Senate has now
passed its final stage and it will, in
the absence Of a general election, be-
come operative in about II months.
This will remove the chief obstacle
that remains to making a final rup-
ture of the British connection, but he
is still urged by his extremist wing to
make that rupture now and to declare
q republic forthwith.
He cannot plead that the treaty
stands in his way, for he has torn up
the treaty until practically nothing
Of it remains. The oath of allegiance
has gone, the annuities agreement is
repudiated, appeals to the Privy Coun-
Gil are forbidden and the ofice Of
governor-general has been reduced to
deriSion.
In short, he has made Southern Ire
land republic in everything but name
and has deprived his country of any
economic advantages it had from
membership in the British common
wealth. Nevertheless he hesitates to
make the final declaration, on the
ground that he must have the maxi
mum amount of freedom"-which pre-
sumably the abolition of the senate
will give him-and because of the
hostility" of Britain.
But the real fly in the ointment is
not Britain. 1t is Ulster. Nothing is
more certain than that if Mr.. De
Valera declares the Free State a re-
public, Britain will, cheerfully if re-
gretfully, take it Lying down" But,
also. nothing is more certain than
that the hope of & united Ireland will
ipso facto vanish. The six northern
counties will have nothing to do with
an Irish republic.
This is the stumbling block in Mr..
De Valera's path. For he has prom
ised his followers not merely re-
public. which In fact If not In name
is already established: but a united
Ireland republic, which there is no
possibility Of achieving. For even he
cannot contemplate coercion although
presumably that Is in the minds of
the f1re-eaters of the Irish republican
army, who are urging him to take the
final step without delay. Even the
abolition of the Senate will not bring
him a step nearer the accomplishment
of his ultimate aim.
X X
In these circumstances there seems
no way out Of the present deadlock
between the two countries. The Brit
ish government is ready at any time
to enter into negotiation with the
Free State for the settlement of all
outstanding questions. am sure
that such settlement would not be
defeated on any question Of Free
State status. British opinion is pro-
foundly Indifferent to whether Ireland
cuts the painted formally, as she has
done practically, or not; but the re-
pudiation Of the treaty must be the
subject Of negotiation and agreement.
When that is done, there is no rea-
son why sensible agreements should
not be reached between the two coun-
tries, whether ireland is an external
power or whether she Is still a mem
Der Of the British commonwealth sys-
TEN.
CCopyYiKtt, 1p34)