BERNARD SHAW ON IRELAND

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16819, 23 August 1922, Page 6

BERNARD SHAW ON IRELAND

‘ 4 The Rebel Idiots’ Battle Song.” De Vnlem No Political Genius. By Telegraph.—Frees Association—Copyrirht Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 23, 10 a.m.) j LONDON, August 22. Mr. Bernard Shaw, who has returned from Ireland, says: “‘What Matter If For Ireland Dear We Fall?’ That is the rebel idiots’ battle song. The idiocy is sanctified by memories of the time when there was really nothing to be done for Irish freedom but die for it. The time has now come for Irishmen to learn to live for their country, instead of which they have blown up bridges and burned homesteads and factories, gaining nothing from it. The cause of Ireland is always dogged by ridicule which we have such a fatal gift of provoking and expressing. I suppose it will have to be settled by another massacre of Irishmen by Irishmen. If de Valera had any political genius he might have averted it, but I cannot persuade myself that he has any. De Valera and Erskine Childers had the choice of subduing the country in the British fashion and i coercing it into a Republic whether it wanted or did not want it, or living like brigands. The leaders are now pretending that they are contending for a principle while their followers are following brigandage.”