THE REBEL COLLAPSE.

Southland Times, Issue 18928, 30 April 1923, Page 4

THE REBEL COLLAPSE.

De Valera’s proclamation makes a dispairing effort to save the rebel cause from its ignominious end by giving the end the appearance of a negotiated surrender to secure peace in the land, but the stubborn facts are there to tear aside the mask. When Griffith, Collins, and their colleagues went to London to secure a treaty, they knew that they were beaten, and ultimately told the Dail the blunt facts. De Valera did not admit defeat then, and on the thin pretext of a verbal variation in the oath drove Ireland into civil war. The death of Michael Collins lies at his door, and the deaths of hundreds of other Irishmen who perished because this man could not face the facts. The proclamation he has now issued can be accepted as a basis for negotiation by the Free State Government only if it thinks De Valera can be trusted to negotiate with the intention of arranging a permanent settlement. To-day he is alone except for one or two women. Most, of the colleagues of the original adventure have gone—many of them have been shot—and if the Free State Government liked to continue the pursuit it would get this man who would be president without the worry of terms. Ireland’s guerillas have been beaten by a firm Irish Government, but if the future is to be peaceful the last embers of the revolt must be stamped out now. With the irriconcilables out of the way the chances of a settlement with the North will be improved, and that surely is a consummation for which the Government should devoutly strive.