PEACE PROSPECTS IN IRELAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 6

PEACE PROSPECTS IN IRELAND.

The President of the Irish Free State has claimed on behalf of his Government that it has' carried out its election pledges to restore order and to see that no section of the community shall assert armed domination over any other section. “ La.w and order,” he boasts, “are accepted almost without question.” Mr Cosgravo speaks no doubt with all due sense of responsibility, and it is very satisfactory to think that he feels justified at last in thus proclaiming the outcome of the civil strife in Southern Ireland. Certainly his statement might be judged to verge upon boldness, considered in the light of reports of fighting in Dublin and of the activity of rebels in sniping at military posts within the last few days, and the assurance which it embodies may appear to lose force when it is read in conjunction with the declaration that if the campaign of outrage is renewed, the Government is prepared for all emergencies. But sporadic acts of defiance on the part of reckless adherents to the rebel cause may be expected for some little time to come, and need not affect the development of a situation in which the Government manifestly holds firmly the upper hand. The latest attempts on the part of Mr do Valera to secure peace by negotiation can only have been due to a realisation by the rebel leaders of the hopelessness of their position. The endeavour of Mr de Valera to make stipulations, and especially his demand that the oath of allegiance should be disregarded, while in keeping with his usual effrontery, represented a forlorn hope. Very properly the attitude of the Government has been thoroughly uncompromising in upholding the Constitution of which the oath of allegiance is an essential part. Further evidence of the inability of the Republicans to con-

tinue the straggle is afforded in the publication of documents captured last week, including, as these do, one issued by Mr de Valera and the rebel leaders associated with him which seems tantamount to an unequivocal acceptance of defeat. "Military success must," Mr de Valera ruefully admits, "be allowed to rest with those who have destroyed the republic." Making a virtue of necessity, he assures the " soldiers of liberty" that the laying down of their arms is "an act of patriotism." It is to be hoped that his juggling with phrases will not too much bewilder those whom he addresses. The outlook for peace in Ireland seems to be steadily improving, but possibly there will be no dramatic fall of the curtain upTrn the weary tragedy that has been staged there for so many months past.