THE FREE STATE

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 31

THE FREE STATE

RESULTS OF BY-ELECTIONS.

GOVERNMENT WINS BOTH

LONDON, August 25. The South Dublin by-election resulted thus: — Dr Hennessey Government) ... 24,139 Mr Briscoe (Fianna Fail) 18,847 Mr Murphy 1,115 The County Dublin by-election resulted as follows:— O’Sullivan (Government) 39,966 Brennan (Fianna Fail) 16,126 Lynn (Sinn Fein) 1,332 LARGE TURN-OVER OF VOTES. RUGBY, August 26. Yesterday’s by-election gave the Free State Government a gain of one seat and a majority of one in the Dail. The large increase in the Govern, ment votes indicated that practically all the people who voted for the National League and the Independent candidates on the last occasion had transferred their support to the Government candidates, which presumably encouraged Mr Cosgrave in the belief that an immediate general election would re-establish him with a majority of a less precarious nature. REASONS FOR DISSOLUTION. LONDON, August 26.

The Dail Eireann has dissolved, and the general election will be held on September 13.

Mr Cosgrave has issued a statement that the Government could not hope to carry out its programme under the present conditions. There was no margin of safety. The three parties forming the alliance—Labour, Fianna Fail, and the National League—had nothing in common except the desire to defeat' the present Government. Such defeat might mean an unstable Government, which would proceed to tamper with the treaty in defiance of a specific undertaking to the Contrary by two parties to the alliance.

Another serious consideration was that a national loan must bo issued in November, and it was essential that the political position should be cleared p at least a month before an appeal was made to the investing public. No unstable combination could hope to borrow on reasonable terms. Under the circumstances the people must be given an opportunity of facing the new situation and stating their views.

PARTIES TAKEN BY SURPRISE LONDON, August 26.

Mr Cosgraves’ action is regarded as a master-stroke. It took all parties by surprise. and caused a first-class sensation in Dublin. The dominating factors of the decision were the size of the majorities at the by-election, and the difficulty, nevertheless, of carrying on with a small margin in the House and the illness of three Government deputies. Finally it is essential that the national loan be issued before January, which, in view of the deadlock, could only be done at the present time on unreasonable terms. It has now been decided to issue it in November. It is anticipated that the election will be the hardest ever fought in Ireland. Nominations are due on September 3. The parties immediately convened midnight meetings. The main issues will inevitably be the questions of taking the oath and the Safetv Bill.

DE VALERA ANNOYED. LONDON, August 26.

De Valera, in an interview, accused the Government of sharp practice. He said: “They will find Fianna Fail not quite so unprepared as they think,” and added, “I am confident that the forces of Irish Ireland will stand shoulder to shoulder in this final battle against Imperialism.'’ MURDER OF MR O’HIGGINS. LONDON, August 25. At Dublin, Sean M’Bride, a son of Kanor M’Bride, who was executed for participation in the 1916 rebellion, was charged under the Public Safety Act with being a person suspected of being engaged in the conspiracy to murder Mr K. O’Higgins. The Magistrate pointed out that he did not feel justified in remanding the accused under the Act, which only became law a month after the murder.

The police agreed to a remand for a week, in order to alter the charge to conspiracy under the ordinary law. K

A CLEVER MOVE. LONDON, August 26. The Daily Mail’s Dublin correspondent says that it is generally felt that Mr Cosgrave acted wisely and that the unusual tactics were fully justified by the extraordinary situation which the De Valerans’ entry into the Dail produced. Cabinet took -legal advice and decided to disperse the Dail by a resolution authorising dissolution. Mr Cosgrave, in the event of defeat, will be forced to resign, enabling Mr De Valera to dominate the LabourNationalist coalition.

Mr Cosgrave acted constitutionally but cleverly, and while the Government Party is not over-burdened with funds, it is far better off than the other parties, which are virtually penniless.

ISSUE OF THE ELECTION. LONDON, August 27. Captain Redmond describes Mr Cosgrave’s dissolution as tricky tactics, designed to snatch a party advantage. The issue of the election will be peace or war. He doubts whether the enthusiasm will be

evoked by the proposal .to give Mr Cosgrave the full power of a mandate, and thinks it will renew the civil disturbance throughout the country by a war of coercion upon political opponents on the pretext of suppressing crime. The Dublin newspapers contain display advertisements by the Government, while Mr de Valera is appealing for election funds.

BITTER FIGHT EXPECTED

ISSUE CLEARLY DEFINED.

LONDON, August 27. Not the least interested in the general election into which Ireland has been plunged for the second time within four months will be Mr Gerald O’Sullivan and Dr Hennessy, who have enjoyed membership of the Dail for two and four hours respectively. The writs have already been received, and most of the constituencies indicate that the fastest and probably the bitterest settlement of the country’s fate will be compressed into the 12 days from September 3 to September 15." “ There is a clear issue between the Government and the Fianna Tail. The latter is still equipped with a little money, which Mr de Valera raised in America, but the others are very poorly supplied with funds, for which reason it is expected that Labour will concentrate on its present seats. The Government will probably nominate 100 candidates and the Fianna Fail 90 for 152 vacancies. This election, like most bombshells, seems to have shaken the nerves of those finding the explosion too close to be pleasant.

•Mr Johnson, the Labour leader, described it as a “gambler’s throw,” professing to be entirely unperturbed, but he continued : “It is desperate to all believers in democracy.” The most valuable de Valeran comment comes from ex-Seaan Lemass, who say's: “The principal result of the election will be the disappearance of the Farmers’ Party and the acceptance of the principle that :t is useless to elect- several small groups. One party strong enough to rule must be returned.”

Mr Cosgrave does not conceal the fact that the reason for the election was the result of the by-elections, which was too remarkable to overlook, and he concludes by saying that tlie rest of the country is awaiting an opportunity to render the same verdict.

The London morning press is almost unanimously of the opinion that Mr Cosgrave’s action was a master stroke. The Daily Telegraph says the Oppositionists are clearly enraged. Both parties wanted power, but neither was willing to take the verdict of the people as to their fitness to rule. The Telegraph points out that article 53 of the constitution provides that “an executive which does not retain the confidence of the House may not dissolve the Dail.” This was popularly interpreted as preventing Mr Cosgrave from dissolving, “but. unfortunately, the lawyer took the broad view that the section did not apply so long as a vote of no confidence wag not passed.” ~