King Doesn't Care?

Does the King-Emperor care whether oaths of fealty continue to be sworn to him by Irish Free State M. P.'s? Many a U. S. admirer of his Majesty is sure that he does not care a snap. Last week this U. S. opinion led Manhattan's tabloid Daily News to print a picture of His Majesty in full regalia with the caption:

George V--

"Well, I don't care."

Editorially the News told its 1,343,871 readers: "The King says he doesn't much care whether the oath goes or stays." But whether Queen Mary cares even the bold News did not tell.

Meanwhile in London His Majesty's Government continued to stickle for the oath in a sharp note to the Irish Free State, so sharp that last week neither sender nor receiver would divulge the contents. In the House of Commons a Laborite M. P. shouted: "This means a declaration of war!" Conservative M. P.'s laughed.

In Dublin new President Eamon de Valera closeted himself to draft his reply to Great Britain's note, took no part in any of the 50 demonstrations staged in 50 Free State cities and towns by the Irish Republican Army--an illegal organization which under previous President Cosgrave was drastically repressed. To prevent clashes, the Regular Free State Army was ordered by President de Valera to remain in barracks.

Seemingly no portion of the Free State populace is hostile to the Republican Army, for its troops paraded through 50 cities and notably through Dublin without booing, riots or opposition. Only female Republican marchers were in uniform (fetching green with saffron scarves) but the men in mufti drilled smartly, proved that their secret military training in past years is no myth. Since most Free Staters firmly believe that the Republican Army has large secret stocks of arms, there was natural Irish disappointment when the army chose to parade gunless.

"Up the Republic!" roared a crowd of 15,000 Dubliners as a two-mile procession of marching Republicans (including Republican Girl Scouts and Republican Boy Scouts) wound its way into Glasnevin Cemetery and coiled around the graves of Ireland's Republican dead.

For the Irish Republican Army this proclamation was read by Army Council Member Maurice Twomey:

"A free people and an independent republic constitute the only status with which we will ever be satisfied. . . .* The Irish Republican Army always will be in the forefront in the attack on British interests. It certainly will be a menace to British law and British order . . . which have arisen out of plunder and exploitation. . . . To free our country, to rescue it from national economic bondage --these are our tasks! Into the revolutionary organizations defending the republic the people must be drafted."

*The Irish Free State has "dominion status.''

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.