The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1933. WHY WAS MR. DE VALERA SO HASTY?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11827, 7 January 1933, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1933. WHY WAS MR. DE VALERA SO HASTY?

The decision on the part of the De Valera Government to precipitate a general election in the Eroe State was, plainly, intended to catch its opponents napping. AH. De \ alera denies that his action was dictated on account of Labour s hostility to his Government's Public Service “cut." ITe docs, however, suggest that bis Government has lately left, very uncomfortable on account of its dependency on Air. Norton and his followers for the right to control the country’s affairs. In some quarters, it is suggested that, if Air. De Yalera had not brought on the fresh appeal to the electors. Labour might have combined with the Cosgravoites and thrown bis Government out. in wbic'i event it could not have claimed a dissolution and one of bis opponents would have boon called upon to form a new Government. AVbai may. however, lie nearer the mark is that AH’. Re Valera feared the threat on the part of the Formers' Party 0,1 d ihe Cosgraveit.es to coalesce. As it so happens Air, McDermott- and Mr. Cosgrove have now entered into an electoral understanding hut Air. De Valera has left them very little time in which to organise as a combined body. There is. indeed, also a prospect that the Cosgrave—-McDermott party mav be aided bv another new party which the Lord Afavor of Dublin says be is determined to establish. Whai Alderman Byrne has in viewers n National pan-v which will combine all the elements, excepting Labour, that- are opposed to Air, De Valeta-.

In the circumstances, it will he most interesting to await the 1, details of Mr, Do Valera’s election manifesto. As far as Can i>e gathered from the brief messages to hand, he does not gq so far as to demand a mandate for "cutting the painter’? with the llritish Empire. It will be noted, however, that ho makes an open threat that the oath to the British Throne must be wiped out. Unquestionably, the position is that it was only right and proper that a, further election.' should have been settled upon :iu order that the voice of the people might be heard on the point as to whether or not the Government’s attitude on tho annuities problem meets with approval. Mr. Do Valera’s hasty decision on the matter would, 'however, suggest that he was not prepared to afford adequate time in which to enable tho electors to discuss the matter in a calm manner. His opponents claim that his Government had become panicky, and they are, no doubt, makincr political capital out of its action. What Mr. Tie Valera and his friends must have thought was that a sham electoral 1 struggle would best suit their hook. In nil the circumstances, it is certain that the contest will he verv bitter. The Do. Valera party would have it believed that there will ho a landslide in its favour. This claim may, however, Tic discounted.. The fact that the Oosgravoitcs and the Farmers’ party have, ns far as is possible in the circumstances, linked hands should he to the disadvantage of the Government. For it will ensure that, even in the limited time before the election, the rase for a settlement of iho dispute with Britain oil ami cable lines will lie placed more forcefully before the electors than if the parties to 1-lie coalition had. prior to the polls, made no agreement. to assist one another. As far as the treaty is concerned, it will not matter if the Government should be returned. Xor will it he of any great consequence if it claim s , and secures, from the electors a mandate to separate from Britain. U Britain is not willing that the Free State shall leave the Empire, I lie treat y must stand, seeing that il is not open to one party to annul it.