MR. DE VALERA AND THE CRISIS [To the Editor of
TIIE SPECTATOR.] Stri.,-:–Professor Temperley's article in your issue of October 11th raises several points in' the problem of Irish partition. It is plain to 'anyone that Ulster is an artificial' unit : it is unsound economically, and of the six counties two (Fermanagh and Tyrone) ought to be in the Free State. Four counties therefore remain. So small a part of the whole country has no right to be cut off from the rest, and in fact the theory of union is everywhere upheld. Before union is possible, however, the economic and other disputes of the Free State with England must be settled, and our position must be defined. Mr. MacDermot is to propose in the Dail a motion that a Republic should be proclaimed at once or else that Republicanism as a practical policy be dropped., This debate, if it develops, may have valuable results, for, till now, Mr. de Valera has found it convenient to commit himself as little as possihle over the vital question of Republicanism. Partition is a domestic problem. The suggestion ,t,lumi the League could arrange the situation is worthless because, the root of nearly all our troubles lies in the fact that other people have always shown a preference for managing our private affairs, and they have been uniformly unsuccessful. With regard to the present situation, Professor Temperley seems to suffer under the same misapprehension as Mr. Cosgrove. At GeneVa, Mr. de Valera did not support England,' he supported the League and everything for which it stands. His extremely able speech had no direct bearing on the Anglo-Irish disputes ; and it is impossible to maintain that the present moment of feverish diplomatic activity is suitable for discussing the delicate questions which are involved.— Yours faithfully,L..B. MAHON.
. . .
Castlegar, Ahascragh, Ireland.
Previous page
