Guttersnipes!

"We would welcome expulsion from the British Commonwealth of Nations," earnestly announced tall, teacherish President Eamon de Valera of the Irish Free State last week. "Expulsion would make us stand on our own feet now, just as we shall have to do later."

Two days later Dublin's "Messiah of Freedom," kept his election pledge to introduce a bill abolishing the oath of fealty to King George sworn by Free State Deputies and Senators (TIME, Feb. 29, et seq.). Before packed galleries Mr. de Valera presented to the Dail what will be known merely as The Constitution Bill, 1932. Since this was only its first reading (three being required), the President wasted no strength in championing his bill and his potent foe, ex-President William Thomas Cosgrave, was not even present, had gone to a funeral. Oratorical honors were therefore taken by Independent Deputy Patrick Macdermott.

"We are an ancient race with noble traditions," cried Orator Macdermott. "Let us not behave like guttersnipes! . . . This bill is illogical, impractical and dangerous. If it passes I shall ask the Dail to take steps to remove Ireland from the sphere of the British Commonwealth."

No sooner had Patrick Macdermott sat down than the bill passed first reading. It was to have its second reading this week. Lawyers were quick to note that President de Valera's bill, though it would abolish the oath, would leave untouched in the Free State Constitution the following clause of Article 51:

"The executive authority is hereby declared to be vested in the King and shall be exercisable in accordance with the law ... by the representative in the Irish Free State of the British crown."

Thus President de Valera is clearly moving with extreme moderation, considering the existence in the Free State of a strong 100%-republican faction whose demand is "Down with the King!"

President de Valera, though he would "welcome expulsion," had made no move up to last week toward attempting to cut the Free State free. After his bill had passed he smilingly said: "The Irish Free State is by far the best customer* Great Britain has. We buy more goods from her than she buys from us. Therefore we have no reason to think that there is any danger of economic war. Last year the Free State was, with the exception of South Africa, the only/- important customer of Great Britain with whom that country had a favorable balance of trade. British statesmen are not likely wantonly to embark on a line of action which would interfere with a trade position so advantageous to their country." Next day ex-President Cosgrave laid the groundwork for his attack on the bill, moved an amendment stating that it "places in jeopardy the rights, liberties, economic privileges and freedom" assured to the Irish under present Free State status, which includes the oath to King George.

*True in the sense that the Irish Free State buys more from Great Britain per capita than any other country buys per capita. But British India alone buys twice as much as the Free State, even with St. Gandhi's boycott in force

/-Apparently an error. Figures for the first nine months show others: British India, Brazil, Japan, Italy.

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