"When the Irish Constitution is
operative over the whole island—
I SHALL BE SATISFIED"
—de Valera Prom Our Own Correspondent
Dttl3LIN.
""1-1HE case against Partition has been put " in a nutshell " by Air de Valera in an interview with the New York HeraldTribilnc, whieh has caused considerable stir.
" My desire," he.said, " has always been to see. the Irish people free to choose their own Governmental institutions and to be able to determine
their relations with other States in accordance with their appreciation of the national interests. This is the right which is asserted in the First Article of our Constitution, namely :
"` The Irish nation hereby affirms its inalienable, indefeasible and sovereign right to choose its mop form df Government, to determine its relations with other nations, and to develop its life, political, economic and cultural, in accordance with its own genius and traditions.'
" When that Constitution is operative over the whole island," added Mr de Valera, "I shall be satisfied."
In these words the Taoiseach concentrates the democratic principle and the measure of his demand. He went on to explain Irish neutrality : it expressed Irish feeling and demonstrated the real freedom of the Twenty-Six Counties. The State was determined to remain neutral and would resist with all her strength any attempt to violate that neutrality.
" Wilful Aggression would Change our Attitude "
" The only thing that could lead us to a change of that attitude," Mr de Valera added, "would be a wilful act of aggression from one side or another. I do not think that such a situation is likely to arise, but it is our duty to prepare for every possible eventuality,"
Asked what part Ireland might play as a neutral in reshaping Europe after the war, Mr de Valera said: " As a small nation our influence is limited. We would not, for instance, exert the influence which is possible for the United States. But we would do everything within our power to co-operate In establishing a stable Europe on a foundation of freedom and justice." In conclusion Mr de Valera said that proposals had been put forward for the ending of Partition, but prejudices of all kinds had been encouraged and these have now to be overcome-not an easy task in itself. Even religious prejudices had been exploited to make union more difficult.
"But," he said, " we hope that the constant demonstration in the greater part of Ireland that religious differences do not involve any discrimination and that all citizens have the same rights, those of the minority being as jealously guarded as those of the majority-we
hope," he declared, " that that demonstration of justice and feltplay will break down hostility and that Ireland's natural destiny to a single nationhood will eventually be fulfilled,"
Tuam's Social Week
The ecclesiastical Capital of the West has held a Catholic Social Week, which seems to have been as thorough a success as that of Dublin. Under the Archbishop-elect, Tuam saw a gathering of the best brains of Connacht, and Dr. Walsh proudly congratulated the cathedral town on Ks lead to the Irish provinces, A splendid paper c.. Democracy Democracy was read by the Rev, M. J. King, of Castl Ostia " In spite of our Catholicity, in spite of our Christian constitution, in spite of the high patriotism and Christian outlook of our public representatives," said Fr. King, " we in Ireland are labouring under the difficulty of trying to put new wine into old bottles, the new wine of Christian democracy into the old bottles of Parliamentary Representative Government. We are trying to carry on in the groove of the English tradition, both in politics and economics. That tradition was conceived on false principles and is fast breaking up.
" Why should we, in the stormy waters of the modern world, entrust our fortunes to a second-hand leaking ship when we can launch a very good vessel of our own?"