EIRE AND THE KING [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
Snt,—Mr. Jeffries' letter in your issue of May 13th is most welcome to those who, like myself, have been interested as members of the rank and file of the Conservative party in national policy for the last 6o years, and it comes most oppor- tunely since it is doubtful whether to per cent. of the Members of our two Houses of Parliament and one per cent. of the electorate understand the real implications of the Irish Agreement.
Why this colossal ignorance should prevail among our legis- lators is not clear, since Mr. de Valera, as head of the Irish Free State, definitely repudiated the King's authority in Southern Ireland some time ago. Now Mr. de Valera is the Dictator of the Irish Free State, and when he declared that the King must go it was clear that unless his pronouncement was immediately challenged by the supporters of the Monarchy here and in Southern Ireland, he would seethat it was immediately carried into effect. Unfortunately this treasonable attempt to deprive the King of all authority in the Irish Free State was not chal- lenged—or at any rate not challenged effectively—and so the way was cleared for the full and definite otnictsion of any reference to his Majesty in the Irish agreement.
If the King is ousted from one section of his dominions why not from another, and, in course of time, why not from every other ?
It is the Monarchy alone which keeps and holds together and gives meaning to the Voluntary Association of Independent
States which we call the British Commonwealth of Nations. If " His Majesty's Government " has ceased to exist in Southern Ireland how long will it survive elsewhere ?—Yours faithfully,
C. F. RYDER.
Thurlow, Suffolk.
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