IRISH FREE STATE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 24 March 1925, Page 7

IRISH FREE STATE

(To the Editor.)

„ Sir,—Your correspondent, G. J. Griffin, addressing you under date the 20th inst., asserts that in my letter published in your paper of the 1-tli I ascribed the present condition of Southern Ireland to anti-British feeling and racial hatred engendered by the Free State Government. I made no such accusation, against that Government. The feeling of antagonism arising out of those causes was m existence before a Free State Government was heard of. The Government of Southern Ireland may, as vour correspondent remarks, ' “be doing its level best to strengthen the bonds between the two States.” I hope, and would like to believe, that this is true, but as a set-off against his statement I quote from a Scottish paper issued, as recently as November last: — Ihe Irish Free State has many of its departments in charge of heads who, though they hate England, still draw, considerable sums from the British Civil List pension. With exquisite gratitude and good taste, they have eliminated the Ring’s head from postal pil.ar ooxes. which are painted green, as well Q s from their postage stamps. All their national sports, held in August, and attended by sparse audiences, the flags of all nations, were flying except the Union Jack." , Mr. Griffin, who styles himself "Hon. sec. Irish Republican Association, N.Z., Wellington branch, ’ waxes indignant at the concluding remarks in my letter, and refers contemptuously to' my taking shelter behind, a nom de plume, but there are certain circumstances that strongly suggest that recourse to anonymity is sometimes a prudent step, having regard to various possible contingencies. Apart, however, from such considerations, what earthly difference, may I ask, would the publication of my name make in respect of the statements made? The question is: Are they or are they not true ? In view of the support, they receive from such a high authority as Mr. John Dillon, of whom, I observe, Mr. Griffin takes no notice. I have no doubt as to their correctness. One word more—as to the contempt expressed by your correspondent for anonymous articles—merely to point out that even within recent years dastardly outrages committed under cover of the hedge and the mask have been applauded and endorsed in some quarters. Why then all this righteous indignation over a scribe conveying to you a few facts under cover of a nom de plume ? In conclusion, I again cali attention to what is apparently another fact, namely, that we nave in our midst a body apparently working along lines which make for the dismemberment of the Empire to which we belong, and once more I ask, will the authorities take cognisance of this?—l am; etc., Wellington, March 21.