On Monday, in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister
moved the Second Reading of the Irish Free State Constitution Bill. He said that he recommended the Bill "without any special fear as to the result, but also without any exaggerated expression of immediate hope." Perhaps we shall represent most justly the feelings and hopes of the Government if we summarize briefly the excellent speech of the Attorney-General, Mr. Hogg. There could be no better way of fomenting disorder in Ireland and of playing into the hands of the liepublieans, he said, than to fail to pass the Bill. If the Bill were not passed, the Provisional Government would cease to have any power in Ireland on December 6th. There would then be nothing in the way of organized Government to take its place. Those who opposed the Treaty in Ireland would be able to say that the British Government had once more played false.
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