ALLEGIANCE AND PREFERENCE.
The exuberance of the Republican element of the Irish Free State over the victory of that party is expressing itself in marchings of military units which until the other day were illegal organisations and public rejoicings in (ho streets of Dublin. The marshalling of the crowds by the police, whose duty so recently was to defend the constitution and prevent demonstrations of the. kind, has its humour, but to the triumphant followers of Mr. Eainonn dc Valera it is just a further cause for joy. If is more than likely, however, that the new President is in a quandary, for his majority depends upon the support of the Labour Party, which is more concerned about its social legislative programme than Southern Ireland's escape from th« Empire. One cause for perplexity on his part has been emphasised in very plain terms by the London Observer that allegiance and preference must go together. This very logical attitude is a modern version of ..the old saying that trade follows the flag. Obviously an Empire State which cancels its oath of allegiance cannot expect to sharo any of the benefit of the preferential tariff and, seeing that England is the main market for Irish produce, the possibility of losing it will cause consternation in the count rysicio that has not yet been sensed by the demonstrators of College Grsen. Perhaps when the tumult and the shouting dies the fiery spirits who have imagined they were following the pipes to freedom will have to lif ten to these practical issues, which nill be rendered none the less significant by reason of the fact that Northern Ireland would continue to enjoy the despised preferential advantage. Under the circumstances the " Irish question " is bound to develop new complications that were never contemplated by the Republican Party.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21132, 15 March 1932, Page 8
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302ALLEGIANCE AND PREFERENCE. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21132, 15 March 1932, Page 8
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