MR COSGRAVE SAFE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 9

MR COSGRAVE SAFE.

fItEE STATE ELECTION. A MAJORITY OF SIX. . - c ABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (iCSTRALIAX AND N.Z. AND SUN' CABLE.) LONDON, September 20. •phe final returns of the Irish Free State elections give the Government a majority of six. GOVERNMENT. Jlr Cosgrave's Party ... 01 Farmers' Party ... 0 Independents ... ... 12 Total 79 OPPOSITION. Republicans ... ... 57 Labour ... ... 13 National T.cagr.c ... 2 Communists ... ... 1 Total ... ... 78 Questioned regarding the possibility of an alliance with the Labour and National League Mr E. de Valera said is it had not existed before the cleciioj). it was 11 ot lively to happen now. GOVERNMENT TO CARRY ON. \ (Sydney "Sun'' Service.) (Received September 21st, 7.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. The correspondent of the "Daily Mail" at Dublin says Mr Blythe, VicePresident of the Free State, announces that the Government intends to carry on, and does not anticipate defeat on tny major issue. It expects that it mil be safe for at least a year. PRESS COMMENT. PRO-TREATY VOTE INCREASED. (iCBTfiALIAN AN» K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received September 21st, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. It is assumed that Mr Cosgrave will be nominated President of the Executive Council when the Dail meets. .The correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" in Dublin understands that Mr de Valera will also be named, and thus the division will compel the minor parties to declare their adherence. It ij unlikely that Mr Cosgrave will refine to form a Ministry if he obtains a elear majority backed by an assurance of support. Mr de Valera, however, cannot count ;on the firm support of the Labour members, and he may well refuse to form a Government. It is difficult, indeed, to see how he could carry on even if he wore bold-enough to undertake 'tie task. - A feature of the election is that initead of each party gaining, as it was hoped, at the expense of the other, both have gained from the parties hitherto : supporting them. The poll showed a distinct increase over the Free State as a whole, though it did not reach 70 per cent., while in some districts, owing Ifo the harvesting, it was smaller than fin June. The "Daily Express" states: "The most welcome feature is the growth of the vote in favour of the treaty, which >as 620,000, compared with 551,000 for 'the opposition—an excellent sign that Ireland is getting down to a realisation of her own business."

•Mr de Valera, in an interview, said: "We mean to work steadily towards the ultimate goal of political and economic, independence for a united Ireland. There is . a .section of the Republicans still without representation. Our first policy will be to create a free Assembly possible for them to accept."