SANCTITY OF AN OATH.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17223, 5 October 1927, Page 7

SANCTITY OF AN OATH.

THE ARCHBISHOP'S PASTORAL. AROUSES GREAT INTEREST. 57 MEMBERS AFFECTED. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, Oct. 3. The Dublin correspondent of the Times says the pastoral of the Archbishop of Dublin concerning the murder and perjury has attracted widespread attention. But,'the correspondent says, it cannot undo the recent elections, at which 411,000 citizens voted for the party which regards the oath of allegiance as an empty formula. Its practical importance is that it now affects the 57 elected Republicans, who will be required to take the oath next week as a condition of entering the Dail. It is anticipated that they will all repeat the oath as an empty formula. Mr P. Rutledge, a prominent supporter of Mr de Valera, in a speech, said the party demanded a peace which would recognise Ireland' as mistress of her own afrairs, without outside interference. The party, he said, refused to recognise the obligations with England as being binding on the Free Slate. The oath which was included in the treaty with the Free State, and is a part of the Irish Free State Constitution Act, runs:—" I do solemnly swear I rue faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the Irish Free State as by law established, and that. I will be faithful to H.M. King George V., his heirs and successors by law, in virtue of the common citizenship of Ireland with Great Britain and her adherence to and membership of the group of nations forming the British Commonwealth of Nations."