IRISH SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19717, 17 August 1927, Page 11

IRISH SITUATION.

iNO-CONFIDENCE MOTION CHALLENGE BY LABOUR. EVE OF TEE DEBATE. POSSIBILITIES REVIEWED.

OUTLOOK STILL CONFUSED

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 16. 7.45 p.m.)

A. and N.Z.-Times. I.ONDON. Aug. 16. It. is still doubtful whether Mr. W. T. Cosgrave's Irish Free State Ministry will suffer defeat or emerge successfully from the debate to be held in the Dail to-day on the no-confidence motion to be moved by the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. T. Johnson

Everything will depend upon the accident of a few votes. The policy of the Leader of the National League Party, Captain Redmond, remains unrepealed. There are those who think this party will abstain from voting. In that event Mr. Cosgrave would be triumphant irs the face of Mr. de Yalera's attack, but he would, nevertheless, hold office by a slender thread. There remains the possibility that the Labour Party and its allies will secure the defeat of 'the Government. In that case Mr. Johnson's Administration would also be numerically weak and at the raercy of the parti-coloured groups which now compose Mr. Cosgrave's Ministry. Labour Leader's Difficulty.

Even if Mr. Johnson were an experienced statesman, which none claims for him, it would be impossible for him to carry on long, much less to deal with the thorny question of the oath of allegiance in the face of the uncompromising pronouncement of the Earl of Birkenhead as its draughtsman that it must stand. Mr. Johnson appreciates this point. He has stated that Ireland needs a non-con tentious Government. On this the Morping Post comments: "If a non-contentious Government can be imagined in Ireland in any circumstances the Irish character must have been radically changed since the treaty was signed "But a new Government could not be non-contentious if it would, for Mr. de Yalera has not swallowed the oath merely in order to put Mr. Johnson into office." Public Safety Bill Opposed.

The Dublin correspondent of the Times says Mr. Johnson has issued a statement in which he says:—

"Labour is not in the market either as buyer ,or as a seller. is unwise radically to alter the law unless it is incapable'of translating the people's will. "Party interest must give way to the country's need. That Parliament should be fully representative the treaty must be hoAbured, unless the people desire otherwise, but the people must not be denied the opportunity of expressing their will.

"We oppose the Public Safety Bill, ■which is bad for the peace and welfare of the country The powers proposed undei the bill ought not ; to be placed in the hands of a possible Labour or Republican Minister. The temptation to use them might be irresistible. This bill and others like it should be repealed."

BEDMOND'S PARTY. MEMBERSHIP REDUCED. MR. JOHNSON'S PLANS. (British Official Wireless.) A. and N.Z. 1 ; RUGBY. Aug. 15. The Evening News, in commenting upon the crisis in the Irish Free State, says the result of the censure motion m the Dail is uncertain owing to the attitude of some of the members of Captain Redmond's party, which has been reduced to seven by the resignation of Mr. 'Vincent Pace. The decision of Captain Redmond's followers, who hold the balance of power, will be announced to-day. It is stated that in the event of Mr Johnson being invited to form an Administration he/will ask certain well-known Constitutionalists to enter his Cabinet, in order to form a disinterested Government which would concentrate upon administrative work.