On Thursday, February 16th, in the House of Commons Mr.
Churchill introduced the Irish Free State Bill. He admitted that the state of affairs in Ireland was very serious. But was it not the best thing to clothe the Provisional Government with lawful authority ? Was it not fatal to peace to let power be wielded by men who had not legal sanction ? The Provisional Government, recognized by the Crown but not sanctioned by law, was an anomaly unprecedented in the British Empire. The Bill which he introduced by authorizing the Provisional Government would make it possible to hold an election in Ireland at an early . date. Of course it had to be remembered that Mr. De Valera might win the election. There was not much advantage, how- ever, in speculating upon such an ugly hypothesis. He admitted that the position of Southern Ireland would in that case be one of the greatest weakness.
