Irish Threats

Although the return's of the Irish Free State election (TIME, June 20) have left President William T. Cosgrave still at the head of the largest single party in the Bail, he threatened last week to refuse to carry on as President (Premier).

Mr. Cosgrave's purpose was to force the split factions of famed Eamonn de Valera and Miss Mary MacSwiney to join forces and enter the Dail. This they have refused to do, alleging their unwillingness to take the oath of fealty to George V, required of every deputy before he can legally take his seat. At present Mr. De Valera stands at the head of 44 Fianna Fail or "Republican" deputies; and Miss MacSwiney is one of six deputies comprising the much blighted and withered Sinn Fein party to which De Valera formerly belonged. Thus, these 50 deputies if they should stand together, would outnumber the 46 supporters of Mr. Cosgrave in a Dail completed by 56 other deputies of comparatively "neutral" stand.

Therefore President Cosgrave declared, last week:

"Responsibility for carrying on the Government falls upon the majority in the Dail. It is not my duty nor within my power to provide them with a means of escape from that responsibility."

This was a flat challenge to Mr. De Valera and Miss MacSwiney. Would they accept, enter the Dail, stand together? Soon famed Eamon de Valera replied:

"I want it known, finally that under no circumstances whatever will Fianna Fail deputies take the oath."

Observers awaited eagerly the assembly of the new Dail. There was always the chance that Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail deputies would try to enter without taking the oath--a move often threatened never attempted, and sure to lead to many a cracked Irish crown. Sober-minded Irishmen hoped that Mr. Cosgrave would consent to carry on, as before, with the readily obtainable support of the "neutral" parties.