29 JULY 1922, Page 1

Mr. Collins is naturally and logically the favourite, but it

is quite possible that an outsider may, after all, win this mad race. We sincerely trust, however, that this will not happen. It would mean a prolongation of civil war and the further physical ruin of Ireland. Even if it is true that there is not a point to choose between the two combatants as regards the essential aim of complete separation, decent people should on the whole incline to the Provisional Government, from which, by the way, we notice that the Minister of Foreign Affairs— a slightly ominous title to those who think that Southern Ireland is sure to remain in the Empire—has resigned.