The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1933. CAN THE FREE STATE RE SWEETENED?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11835, 17 January 1933, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1933. CAN THE FREE STATE RE SWEETENED?

When (lie opponents of the De Valera. Government found themselves confronted with the need to participate in such a short-notice, general election, if looked as it lliei 1 ’ chances were far from rosy. The De Valemites; it can he taken, for granted,- had been carefully studying the electoral pulse and' had come to the conclusion that the time was opportune to precipitate a test of strength : throughout the- country. What they must have reckoned was that they could convince a majority of the eleo;tors that Britain was responsible; for the deadlock which obtains with the 'Free State. It would, indeed, ' seem that, they quite overlooked the chance they were affording their opponents to present Britain’s traditional, attitude for fair play. Mr. Cosgrave has now assured the farmers that an honourable . healing of the breach with, Britain would prove a very easy matter and that, as part of that agreement, the annuhities ' would he " '"snbj sthntially “caitd; The De Valerites ,liad certainly nof, foreseen that what ithey describe as a. "bribe’’ would intervene to upset their calculations; All- that they can suggest in reply is that the British authorities carefully

withhold the offer until 'after a', general appeal to ; the qleqtori) . {iad been launched! It. will, of course, be 'ag„ reed that Mr. lie Valera and his colleagues might have obtained, a similar offer prior to the dissolution of Parliament, if they had gone about the matter in the right way. Indeed, it nuly even ho, the case that Britain indipate<h during the abortive A n i?l°r Free State' negotiations • lio.r willingness to make a considerable sacrifice in. connection with, the annuities. As is well-known, nothing has been divulged as to. what, actually transpired at the conferences which were attended by the Rt. Hon. J. H. Thqnia.s, Mr. T>e Valera,, and, others. If, however, Mr. Cosgrave, with the aid of the. Farmers’ Party, should regain office, it may be taken for ‘’granted that what occurred at the confoi'ences will lie disclosed. It need not occasion surprise, indeed, if .it turns out tha't only Mr. Do Valera’s political obstinacy prevented a speedy settlement of the-dispute and led to the waging of the tariff struggle'with has resulted in economic and " industrial harm to both nations. What now remains to be seen is whether a majority of the people of the Free Slate will, at the ballot box, prefer a return to normalcy as against the foolish economic battle which, is proceeding. In other words, what has to he settled is whether the Free State will continue to honour the treaty with. Britain or continue to fight for sovereign independence, with the loss of all the advantages in respect of trade preference which Britain is pledged to give, her Dominions. It is, certain that the peoples of the Dominions will trust that an honourable peace between Britain and the Free State will be the main result of the pending electoral appeal. In this regard, the non-British section of the people of South Africa present a fine lesson to the recalcitrants in the Irish Free State. To-day, the relations between Britain and her ex-enemy Boer friends are more amicable tfian at any other lime in history. 'Hie rebellions element in the Irish Free State does not seem to realise that their campaign of antipathy towards Britain will not get the jveople of Southern Ireland anywhere.