Irish News Letter

Apology Closes Mass incident
From Our Own Correspondent
DUBLIN
The Bishop of Derry has accepted the public apology, made by a Minister of the Stormont Government, for his jest about fumigating a hall in which Mass had been celebrated for American troops, and has expressed the hope that the regrettable incident now will be forgotten. In his letter of explanation, Mr. Lowry said that he did not intend an insult to the Mass, but meant his little joke to apply to the report that the Hibernian Order had used the hall. The Hibernians, not unnaturally, regard this excuse as leaving them with an unexpected grievance, and now they in turn have asked for an apology.
The metter did not close here, for a demand was made in the Northern Parliament for Mr. Lowry's repudiation by Sir Basil Brooke: but this was asking the pot to rebuke the kettle.
LABOUR IN TRAVAIL
spread throughout the branches. Out
siders have difficulty in discovering the issues which divide the sides, or the attitude of individual leaders, owing to the wise closure on public discussion which the Labour men have imposed.
In the Standard, Professor Alfred O'Rahilly welcomes the crisis, inasmuch as it may lead to Labour setting its house in order and becoming an effective influence in the future. Hitherto, torn by personal dissension, and with divided ideals, Labour has achieved little. Professor O'Rahilly cites some Communistic flirtings by individuals which have hurt the reputation of their associates among orthodox Catholic supporters. Perhaps some will think that he overstresses accidental contacts with Communism while greater harm has been done by open championship of collective ownership of industries and farms. Often men who rightly repudiate Communist association innocently advocate Collectivist measures.
A thorough overhaul of the Labour position and the adoption of a wellreasoned Distributist programme would make Labour a powerful wing of the general advance of Ireland towards the Catholic social ideal.