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The words which the Cabinet used to suggest the future

relationship of Ireland with Great Britain were evidently chosen with extraordinary care, so as not to give Mr. De Valera any verbal pretext for Hying into a fresh huff. The words were: " To ascertain how the association of Ireland with the com- munity of nations known as the British Empire can best be reconciled with Irish national aspirations." The word " association " must have been chosen because of its wide and elastic significance. The hated term " British Empire " is softened down by the preceding explanatory words, and lest even then Mr. De Valera should discover some new cause of offence or delay, Irish national aspirations were brought in for emphasis at the end of the sentence.

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