Ireland
Public interest in the political situation in the Free State during the last week has to a certain extent been eclipsed by popular fever over the Sweepstake Draw. On Tuesday Mr. de Valera took the opportunity provided by the first meeting of the Dail since his election to-the Presidency to make a further declaration of his policy. His determination to remove the Oath of Allegiance from the Constitution was, he explained, founded on the hope of achieving peace and obtaining the cmoperation of the country in the form of a willing obedience to law and order in place of an enforced discipline. By.stating his intention -to set up an immediate enquiry into the question of widows' and orphans' pensions; he 'made' a move towards securing the firmer support• of theLabotir.
Party ; and 'he reaffirmed his design of withholding the Land Annuities due to Britain. But while the question of the•Oath is at bottom a theoretical problem, and the Seatit& Can in any ease be counted on to' hold up the proposed abolition till the country has had an oppor- i unity to reconsider its views, the annuities can hardly be considered merely as a political formula. Mr. de Valera would be well advised to think twice before embarking on .any policy which might call for active retaliation from England.
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