IRISH FREE STATE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 212, 22 August 1927, Page 6

IRISH FREE STATE

INTENSE CAMPAIGN WAGING TWO BY-ELECTIONS THIS WEEK. London, Aug. 20. The political situation in Ireland is by no means less tense. The coming week may see the tide turn either way- Everything is hanging on the elections for the two vacant seats on Wednesday, the result of which will decide whether a general election will he immediately or late in the autumn. “The Times’ " Dublin correspondent states that an intense campaign of political advocacy is waging in the city and country. AU the Free State Ministers have thrown themselves into the fray. Mr, Cosgrave, believing recent events have strengthened his positions enormously, refuses to offer the slightest concession to the Opposition parties; indeed, his speech in County Dublin on Thursday seems to indicate that at least some parts of the Public Safety Act will be enforced without delay. However, the Government will probably proceed very cautiously. It may proclaim certain organisations and deport certain persons. The Government, nevertheless, is unlikely to venture anything in the nature oi a general round-up LABOUR ATTACKED. Mr. McGilligau, in a speech in Dub lin, made a powerful attack on the Labourites. He said Mr. Johnston had certainly offered the Government alliance, but on the following terms: He suggested that the Fianna Fail should be wiped out of existence, that 51 Republican seats should immediately be declared vacant, and subscription to the oath should be made a condition precedent to nomination. It was stated that if the Government declared these seats va cant, proceeded Mr. McGilligau, Labour would get the majority ol the votes cast for Republicans at the last elections and would be returned to Dai! with a party of 50. The man who proposed that, said Mr. McGilligan, now had the impudence to join the Fianna Fail in signing a demand for the suspension of the Electoral Amendment Act. It was high time the public knew what was going on behind the scenes, that the Labourites aimed at being a political party, not merely a party interested in economic and social problems. Mr. McGilligau proceeded to attack vigorously Mr. de Valera’s attitude to the oath. He said that when Mr. de Valera took the oath he put the Bible in the corner of the room. He did not exactly kiss his thumb, as witnesses in Ireland sometimes did, under the impression that they were not taking me oath, when it was really solemnly sworn in accordance with the full formula. Mr. de Valera pronounced himseif a perjurer when he wanted to carry on his old ideas of wrecking the constitution and the treaty. MR. JOHNSTON’S REPLY. Mr. Johnston, replying, described Mr. McGilligan’s speech as a villainous misrepresentation of the truthHe said: “In view of the Government’s many difficulties after Mr. O’Higgins’ assassination, 1 assured Mr. Cosgrave that if any such course were necessary to inspire public confidence the Labourites would join an all-party coalition. Simple human reeling prompted this course. We dill not contemplate that our sympathy would be spurned and flouted as it has been.”

The by-elections in Dublin County and South City are exciting tremendous interest. Both are experiencing a spate ol oratory unparalleled even in Irish elections. There are hundreds of meetings daily, even on Sunday, lhe results will be announced on Thursday. — (A. and N.Z. and “Times’’ cables). PUBLIC SAFETY ACT TO BE ENFORCED London, Aug. 18. “The Times’ ” Dublin correspondent says the Executive Council intends immediately to enforce the Public Safety Act. Many of the Government s supporters advise to the contrary, Because there is no longer a I'arlimaeiitary majority in favour of the Act, but Mr. vosgrave and his colleagues consider that it the Act was sound last week it is sound to-day, and they therefore must enforce its provisions. If this view prevails me itepubliean Army and the Fianna Boy Scouts organisations may be proclaimed illegal in the near future. Military courts cannot be established until Dail sitsMr. Healy withheld his signature froni the Electoral Amendment Act, which compels candidates to declare before nomination that they will take the oath of allegiance if elected to either House. The de Valeraites, Labour and National League, who constitute two-fifths of Dail, have petitioned for the suspension of the Act, and in consequence it cannot become law until the fulfilment of the constitutional provision, providing lor its suspension for 90 days, pending the arrangements of a referendum. The effect of this may be that condidates will make no declaration before nomination for the next election. Mr John Jinks has sent a letter to Captain Redmond resigning from the National party. Mr De Valera is also losing a prominent supporter, Mrs Shehey Skeffington, whose husband was shot in the rebellion. She is quitting the Fianna Fail because the de Valeraites have taken the oath—(“Times” cable).