Even the date of the General -Election depends upon the
by-elections. It is clear that there must be a General Election soon, because- no Government could hope to carry on successfdlly =with at --best a majority of - three. the Government lose either of the Dublin by-elections they will be in a minority of one and will have to resign at once. Mr. Johnson, the leader of the Labour Party, is opposed to an immediate General Election, and if Mr. Cosgrave were compelled to resign, the Labour Party would no doubt try to carry on a Government with the help of the National League. It seems, however, that such a Government would be at the mercy of Mr. Dc Valera. Mr. Cosgrave and his Ministers, recognizing the vast importance of the occasion, have taken a vigorous part in the by-elections. Mr. Cosgrave refuses all concessions. He has decided that the Public Safety Act, or at all events portions of it, shall be put into force at once. It is not to be supposed, however, that in the circumstances the Government will embark upon any- thing in the nature of a general round-up of doubtful characters such as was at first contemplated. Mr. P. J. MeGilligan, the Free State Minister for Industry and Commerce, has quoted with enormous effect a speech in which Mr. De Valera some time ago attacked those who were weakly thinking of taking the Oath of Allegiance, and informed them that if they took it without intending to honour it (as apparently they did) they were " nothing less than perjurers." Thus did Mr. De Valera accurately describe in advance his own position of three weeks ago.
