King Country Chronicle. Thursday, March 17, 1932. THE IRISH FREE STATE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3444, 17 March 1932, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Thursday, March 17, 1932. THE IRISH FREE STATE.

Most people have heard the story of the Irishman who was asked what were his politics when landing in New York, and his reply: "A'gin the Gov'ment." This appears to be the attitude taken by a section of the Republicans in the Irish Free State. News that has come to hand this last few days show that a Republican Army properly uniformed, has been carrying out manoeuvres in the streets of Dublin without any interference by the police. Last week, before the results of the elections were known, such a parade would have meant the arrest of the participants, but now they have the cheering approbation of thousands of people, and are actually assisted by the police.

Mr De Valera, the newly-elected President of the Free State Parliament, was certainly more moderate in his denunciation of Britain during his election campaign than was the case some years ago, though he still adheres to his policy for complete severance and a Republic for the whole of Ireland. Since the success of the Republican Party the course of events in the Irish Free State has not been reassuring. It is hard to understand why the people of the Free State should wish to break away from Britain. In a political sense the State is a free country; from an economic point of view the State's interests are bound up with those of Britain. To break those economic ties would be disastrous to her people, for nearly the whole of their exports are sent to Britain, and the loss

of the new preferential duties would mean a greater loss than the illusory ambition of a section of the people for an independent Republic. With crowded markets in every part of the world the Free State has little possibility of opening up new avenues of sale for her exports. Perhaps Mr.

de Valera has now realised what severance from the Mother Country means to the trade and commerce of his country, and this may account for his more moderate tone during the elections. If such is the case, his task is a difficult one. He has promised the people a Republic, and the die-hards of his party will see

that he attempts to carry this policy through by treaty or force. The diehards can only see the injustices done to Ireland hundreds of years ago, which can well be forgotten if it means a continuation of a large export trade to Britain. Mr. de Valera is in a difficult position. Like many other politicians, he made rash promises to the people when his elevation to power seemed remote. When taken at his word, he finds like many others 3 that he will either have to carry out these promises or sacrifices the interests of the country and its people.