FREE STATE POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 19639, 19 August 1927, Page 5

FREE STATE POLITICS

THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION MR JINKS EXPLAINS EXPELLED FROM PARTY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 17. Mr Jinks, the missing Rcdinondite, has gained more publicity than any' other man or any happening in the British Isles to-day. He is the subject of editorials, street corner comments, and Government discussions, causing laughter, applause, and abuse. Hordes of reporters were on his trail all day, and ho was variously reported as having been dramatically kidnapped and spirited away. One newspaper went the length of assorting that he had been preoccupied at a Dublin hotel, whore the best brands of whisky were stocked.

Speculation was at its height when lie was observed walking unconcernedly towards the Dail. When he extricated himself from the mob, be soon put to rest all doubts as to his part as tho saviour of Ireland’s Government. There was no blarney about Jinks. Ho simply said: “I left the Dail last night without voting in order to save tho Government. My constituents do not favor a coalition, so they urged mo to support tho Government. My party pressed mo to vote against the Government, but 1 listened to the debate, and decided that the present Government was the best for Ireland at present, so I walked out. That is all.” The National League Party has decided to expel Mr Jinks. The Dublin correspondent of ‘The Times’ says that only a political miracle saved the Government. It is tho general opinion that Mr Cosgravo is likely to ho safe for at least two months. Mr O’Connell, a Laboritc, returns shortly from America, placing Mr Cosgrave in a minority unless Mr Jinks turns positively pro-Govonimont. On the other hand, two pending byelections should result in a victory for the Government, providing Mr Cosgrave with a majority and the opportunity of announcing a dissolution. But it must be remembered that a large section of the public, including even supporters of Mr Cosgrave, dislike the rigors of the Public Safety Bill. Mr Cosgrave would have been well advised to rely to tho utmost on common law. If so, tho Government might obtain a dear majority at the general elections, because the country is startled at the prospect of a Johnson-Rcdmond coalition, which would be completely at Mr De Valera’s mercy.

The ‘ Morning Post ’ editorially states: “Air Jinks should constitute himself a separate party. While he lias some qualities as a loader, it is quite evident that he is unlikely to be a good follower.”

Tho ‘Daily Telegraph’ says: “Tho sooner Mr Cosgrave appeals to the country the better.”