SITUATION IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19765, 12 October 1927, Page 13

SITUATION IN IRELAND.

DATE OF' ALLEGIANCE. DE VALERATES STAND FIRM ELECTION OF "PRESIDENT. COSGRAVE OR HIS RIVAL. ISSUE WITH A MINORITY. 35fy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received October 11, 5:5' p.m.) 'A. aud N.Z.-Sun, LONDON, Oct. 10. Tho Irish Republican leader, Mr. Eampnn do Valera, states that the attitude of the members of the Fianna Fail toward the oath of allegiance has not changed. They will refuse to give allegiance except to the Irish nation. The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says Mr. de Valera's declaration shows that he and his followers do not heed the hierarchy's pastoral, in which the sin of perjury was strongly denounced. Most of the members of the Dail have now been sworn in. It is uncertain how the election of President will result. Six members of the Farmers' Party hold the position in their hands as between Mr, \V. T. Cosgrave and Mr. de Valera. The final figures in the Irish Free State election last month gave Mr. Cosgrave's Government^'a majority of six They were as follows:—> - Government Parties—s Government tci »:« 63 Farmers t.,., 6 . Independents uw 13 Total • • K3 oas H 79 , Opposition Parties— De Valeraites .».» bcs tea 57 .. ■ DO u 13 National League w 3 Independent Labour 1 Total »*„•» uji c«i.. 73 These figures explain the statement in to-day's cablegram that the members of the Farmers' Party hold in their hands the decision as; to whether Mr. Cosgrave or Mr. de Valera shall be the new President of the Dail.

As regards the oath of allegiance, the following is "the —text of a statement issued from the head Quarters of Fian«a Fail on August -12 The Fianna Fail de puties have met and given carefui consideration to the position of national emergency which has been created by the legislation now being passed through the Free State Parliament. They recogturpi that this legislation may imperil the general peace and cause widespread suflfiring: that it disfranchises and precludes Irom engaging m any effective peaceful political movement toward independence' all Irish Republicans who ■will not acknowledge that any allegiance is due to the English. Crown Nevertheless they have come unani jnously to the decision that even under these circumstances'-it- is not competent fo«- them, as -pledged Republicans anil fts elected representatives of the Republican section of £he community, to transit "their allegiance/-" J ' It has, however, been repeatedly Stated, and ifeJs not - uncommonly believed, that the required declaration is not an oath, that the singing of it implies bo contractual "obligation and that it lias no binding -significance in conscience o. in law; that, in short, it is merely . empty political formula which . deputies could conscientiously sign without beepming involved, or without involving their nation, in obligations ~of loyalty to the English Crown. The Fianna Fail "deputies would cer Jtaiuly not wish to-have the feeling that , they ; are allowing themselves to bo debarred by* notfiihg" more than an empty formula from exercising their functions as public representatives, particularly at a moment like this. The.y intend, therefore, to present themselves at the clerk's office of the Free State Dai] "for the purpose of complying with the provisions of article .17 of the Constitution," by inscribing their names in the book kept for the purpose, among other signatures appended to the required formula; But, ho that there may be do doubt as to iheir attitude and no misunderstanding of their action, the Fianna Fail deputies hereby give public notice in advance to the Irish people and to all whom it may concern that thay purpose to regard the declaration as an empty formality and repeat that their only allegiance is to the Irish nation and that it will be given to no other power of authority. The statement was signed by 42 members of the party. The one Fianna Fail .deputy who did not sign it, Mr. J. Colbert (Limerick) was stated to have been unavoidably .absent.