Mr., de . Valera's Goal Mr. Keynes has told Irish
Free State politicians some uncomfortable truths about their doctrine of economic self-sufficiency—or, rather, has put* his views in the form of one or two awkward questions. The plain fact is that for an area the size of Southern Ireland to try and make itself self-contained, or anything like it, is economic madness. Unfortimately, " economics and' polities are disastrously intermingled in the Free State, and the retaliatory duties imposed by .this country as result of the annuities dispute -mean a diversion of most of Southern Ireland's trade currents. Mr. de Valera's speech at Dublin last Sunday, . in which he declared his policy to be the gradual removal of every symbol derogatory to Ireland's full sovereignty; and the creation of a republic in fact if not 'in name, points to no early understanding with Whitehall. A. change of Government in this country would no doubt affect the outlook. Whether another Government in - Ireland could follow any ,policy substantially different from Mr. de Valera's is much more doubtful. . What is needed more than, anything is a sensible interpretation of the two countries to one another.
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