14 JANUARY 1922, Page 2

The situation in Ireland is that the Treaty has at

last been accepted by the Dail Eireann, said that Mr. Griffith has been elected in the place of Mr. De Valera as President. Prepar- ations, are now going on-to form the Provisional Government, which will in turn set up the Free State. Mr. Griffith's position is, of course, in a sense anomalous. as ‘Jie "may be said to be in form‘President of the Republic. But when rebellion is giving way to more ordered rule it is futile to argue that nobody has any authority to act. We must accept authority for what it is worth and generally take the broad view of things and ant on lines of common sense. Mr. De Valera's pinchbeck_ and non- sensically logical protests that Mr. Griffith has no authority will not, we hope, be listened to even in Ireland.