NEW RULE IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 11

NEW RULE IN IRELAND.

POLITICAL OFFENDERS.

TWENTY FREED FROM GAOL.

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

ABOLITION ANTICIPATED

SERIOUS TROUBLE FEARED.

By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright (Received March 11, 5.5 p.m.) IfONDOX, March 10.

Twenty political offenders who were sentenced by the Irish Free State military tribunal have been released. Tiiev were acclaimed as they were driven from the prisons where they had been incarcerated.

It is expected that the Tribunal Act will be scrapped shortly. Legislation to abolish tho oath of allegiance may be introduced in the Dail before the Holy Week adjournment. Many people in Ireland fear that serious trouble is imminent owing to the Republicans' success at the general election tending to incite them to determined efforts to secure tho inclusion of Northern Ireland in a complete all-Ireland Republic.

COMMENT BY TIMES.

MR. DE VALERA'S POLICY. TRADE NEGOTIATIONS FACTOR. (Received March 12, 12.35 a.m.) Times Cablo. LOXDOX, March 11. In an article on the situation in the Irish Free State the Times editorial says Mr. de Valera's Ministry is an untried body and Englishmen will watch its future proceedings with detached interest rather than with the anxiety which seems to be felt in some quarters in Ireland. They will hope for a continuity of commonsense.

It might not be an altogether one-sided disadvantage to this country, says the paper, if Mr. de Valera after all should decide to pursue in office the policy of whittling away the Irish settlement and of repudiation of Irish obligations which he sometimes threatened in opposition.

The situation would at least be clear and the negotiations for reciprocal trade which are rapidly taking place would be simplified if they were limited to those parts of the Empire which are really anxious for its consolidation.