Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-18
MEET MR.. COSTELLO
Irish Premier Scorns
Leprechouns and Pigs
BY MARY McGRoRY


Guests Of the Nation come
and 90 at q great rate these
days.
The latest to tread the red
carpet in the State Departments
accelerated "getting-to-know-
you" program for international
dignitaries was Ireland's Ga
year-old Prime Minister John A.
Costello, who knew us pretty well
already.
Mr.. Costello followed hard on
the heels of italian President
Giovanni Gronchi. who as chief
of a state with a formidably
large Communist Party enroll
ment and some rather well-ad-
vertised leftist leanings Of his
own, had q four-day visit that
seemed to have some Of the ele-
ments Of courtship in it.
That ingredient was entirely
lacking from Mr.. Costello's stay.
Not that we take Ireland's
good will for granted. but Irish
American friendship goes way
back, and in case Of a showdown
between East and West there's
no question Of whose side Catho-
lie Ireland would be on. Pro-
portionately it has, as Mr.. Cos
tello pointed out, the smallest
number Of Communists OF any
country in the world.
Like . Family Call
So Mr.. Costello's visit was
more like q call from one OF the
family. Everywhere he went
and it was mostly through the
rain-he appeared quite at home,
standing with his hands behind
his back. For an Irishman. 1t
seemed to some, he was q quiet
man; and for a politician, a self
contained one.
He smiled less frequently than
most public men; and he ex-
hibited a strain of asperity that
startled those who had expected
blarney. When all around MIN
wore green, he rather conSpicu-
ously stuck to gray and blue ties,
Spurns ROmanticism
Mr.. Costello gives no house
room at all to sentimental no
lions about his native land,
which he would like to see more
favorably regarded in business
way by American investors. His
government has pushed land
reclamation schemes in the hope
that q more prosperous agricul-
ture will bring about better
consumer economy. He doesn't
care for the notion so dear to
the hearts of those who know
Ireland only Economically, that
It's a dear, backward little land
with pigs in the kitchen. In
fact, q woman came up to him
at one of the many parties he
attended Will che was here and
told him she had bought a pig
as q souvenir Of Ireland.
Mr.. Costello fixed on her the
look that has made him some
thing Of q terror as q cross
examiner in Irish courts and
said, Nov that's all past.
We're long since gone from the
leprechauns and the jaunting
cars Of bog-oak. That's nm
ished. We're a modern country
In the modern world"
To q discussion Of the weather,
he brought q certain dryness.
Even this great Nation, which
has achieved so much, cannot
control the. weather." he said
upon his drenching arrival. with
q certain yry solemnity that was
as original as the remark.
On other occasions MS Cos
tello showed a disposition not
to mince words.
Believer in Order
At the Press Club, asked about
the "insurgence" and popular
favor" OF the IRA, Mr.. Costello,
with his usually mild blue eyes
flashing, retorted that the ques-
toner was in complete and en-
tire ignorance of conditions
existing today.
Mr.. Costello Is one OF Ire
lands leading constitutional
lawyers, and his greatest contri-
button to his country's indie
pendence was his defense in a
famous habeas corpus case in
volving an Irishman sentenced
to death by the British authori-
ties. This case was crucial in
endin gthe troubles" He is
a fervent believer in orderly
procedure.
His proudest achievement was
the passage during his first term
as Prime Minister of the Repub-
lie of Ireland Act, which pro-
claimed Ireland a republic and
took her out of the British COM
monwealth of Nations.
I'D like to be remembered
for ending the strife between
Trishman and Irishman." saws