Mr. Cosgrave's Assets Two factors should tell in favour of
the constitutional parties. Elections in the Irish Free State are under Proportional Representation, so that the success of de Valera candidates as result of the splitting of the vote between the Cosgrove and MacDermot parties is con- siderably reduced. And at the same time Mr. Cosgmve is able to hold out the definite prospect of the reopening to Irish produce of the British market, not merely on the old terms but with the advantages Ireland might have secured at Ottawa if the oath and annuity con- troversy had not precluded any negotiations at all between the two countries there. A constitutional government would, of course, have to settle the annuity question before commercial negotiations could be begun, but that would cause no difficulty and little delay. The British Government has never been much concerned with anything but the principle. The actual financial settlement could be arranged in a couple of hours. Mr. Cosgrove probably has clearer assurances on that point than he can quote on election platforms. But in spite of all that, it has always to be remembered that Ireland is a country where normal rules do not apply, and factors that in ordinary cases would infallibly lead to certain results may in Ireland lead to something quite different
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