The Irish Situation The economic war between Great Britain and
the Irish Free State is now in full operation, the main item in the list of new Irish duties on British imports being a five shillings a ton tax on coal. This is being at once passed on to the consumer, but it is evidently hoped that imports from Germany and else- where will soon be forthcoming at something like the old price, though differences in quality are bound to cause inconvenience. Though there has been no fresh contact between the Governments there seems reason to believe that both Mr. MacDonald and Mr. de Valera would welcome any opportunity of resolving the present deadlock somehow. If faces had not to be saved that would be easy. As they have, the next move must consist of some step which neither side has already vetoed. Since there is no urgency about the matter in point of time it would be perfectly feasible to take up the proposal of Mr. Norton, the Irish Labour leader, for a board of conciliation of two representatives of each country (perhaps men of judicial experience), the June annuity payments being meanwhile neither kept in Dublin, as they are now, nor handed over to the British Government as Mr. MacDonald stipulated, but deposited with the Bank for International Settlements. But there are plenty of ways of opening doors if both sides want them opened. * * * *
