The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-28


certainty, the white-whiskere
within a few years" Ulster
Join in a united Ireland.
Shaw. who first saw the light Of
day in Dublin, and who has never
forgotten the sod from whence he
sprang, put himself in the boots
of Douglas Hyde, who is a prac
teal certainty to be the first presi
dent of the new state of Fire.
IDEA DOESN'T APPEAL"
But the idea of being president
Of Fire doesn't appeal to me, u
said Shaw today in an exclusive
interview.
THE ideal president should
be Just a figurehead, keeping
out of politics and combining
himself to the cultural better.
ment of his people," said the
Irish author.
IF I were the president of
Ireland" Shaw insisted. Il
should do the same as Mr.. Hyde
is going to do-remain just a
figurehead.
THAT is what the ideal presi-
dent is-just a figurehead. BY
that I do not mean any disre-
spect to the President OF the
United States.
OBJECTS TO LODGINGS
There is one thing about the
presidency of Fire which does
not appeal to me. That is tax
ing up residence in the official
vice-regal lodge in Dublin. The
thought appalls me to have any
thing to do with regality, vice
or otherwise. It does not seem
to me to be a happy association.
Mr.. Hyde has threatened
not to interfere in politics. That
is right, so far as the president
Is concerned.
But I must confess I don't
think I could forbear from urg-
ing Mr.. De Valera to get all he
can out of the British.
SEES BRITAIN AS GAMER
"This new Anglo-Eire agree
ment is all right so far as it
goes, but as it will work out
in practice, you will find that
the English get more than they
give.
80 if I were the president, I
fear I should urge the prime
minister in the future to squeeze
more concessions out of Premier
Chamberlain"
Ireland, according to Shaw, ha
. double advantage over the neigh
boring island.
Britain is poor country"
said Shaw, because it cannot
provide its own food.
Ireland can, and therefore
should, make the most of it.
DEFENSE BIG ASSET
"As for defense, it is certainly
to Ireland's advantage to have
the help of Britain's strong
navy and army as a guarantee
OF 1reland'S independence.
Even if De Valera didn't want
them" said Shaw, referring to
privileges in three Irish ports
now abandoned by England,
British ships would still take
shelter and refuel there willy
nilly in an emergency.
If I were president of Ire
land, I should not worry too
much about partition.
The people of Ulster in a
few years will be only too
pleased to rejoin the southern
counties.
PROPERTY IN PERIL
THAT solid and conservative
and intelligent Catholic vote of
the agricultural counties will be
needed to Offset the demands
of the industrial people around
Belfast, who day by day are max
ing their attacks against private
properties. And if an Irishman
holds anything dear, it is the
right to develop his own private
property. They fought for years
for that ideal.
AS a figurehead, a president
can do much outside of politics.
He can be an example to the
nation.
1.-THE fact that Mr.. Hyde is a
Protestant does not matter in
the least. So long as he is a man
Of culture, he will encourage the
cultural life of the people.
WAIT AND SEE!
That's what I would do. But
I haven't got the job. so let's
wait and see how the system
works.
ASK me about it again, say in
20 years"
wore FOR SUFFRAGE APRIL So
US. Education All
!" N