Diplomatic Mutiny

Diplomatic Mutiny

English newsorgans have printed little, the English public has thought less about the fact that next week, when the newly adopted Irish Free State Constitution (TIME, July 12 et ante) goes into effect, His Majesty King George VI will have been completely erased from any constitutional status or even mention in the land of Eamon de Valera. This may be only a paper defeat for London, but tall, teacherish President de Valera used his parliament at Dublin last week to rub in his paper victory in a manner as annoying as possible to the English. To launch his Free State on a new foreign policy sharply different from that pursued by British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, he asked the Dail to vote de facto recognition by the Irish Free State of Italy's conquest of Ethiopia.

That a dominion--the Free State has "dominion status"--should break openly in foreign policy with the mother country is unprecedented. The dominions are now regularly "consulted" on foreign issues by the British Cabinet. At League of Nations sessions the delegate of this or that dominion sometimes makes a speech which causes his London colleagues to shudder. But for Dublin to recognize Vittorio Emanuele III as "Emperor," whereas London recognizes him only as "King," was diplomatic mutiny.

Laborite members of the Dail spoke feelingly last week against Mr. de Valera. Labor Party Leader William Norton declared flatly that the Emperor "has no more claim to that title than His Britannic Majesty has to authority over Ireland, which was not given to him by the Irish people!"

When the vote was taken, de Valera deputies were joined by those of the official Opposition led by famed William T. Cosgrave. With only the Laborites still opposed, Dublin's de facto recognition of Rome's conquest was voted 72-to-11. Since each ambassador or minister of King George is the direct personal representative of His Majesty, the appointing of an Irish Free State minister at Rome accredited to "Victor Emanuel III, King of Italy and Emperor of Ethiopia" had to be done by George VI. Mr. de Valera therefore posted a letter direct to Buckingham Palace, advised His Majesty to take the necessary action, enclosed the official papers for him to sign.

That the King, when advised to act by one of His Majesty's Governments, always acts as advised is, of course, the essence of the Sovereign's constitutional duty. The British Cabinet was certainly hopeful that there would yet be found some loophole by which King George could avoid placing himself in the inconsistent position of recognizing Vittorio Emanuele as "Emperor" at the Irish Legation in Rome and refusing to do so at the British Embassy. Tartly the Manchester Guardian commented: "Mr. de Valera is steadily developing his theory that while the King is divisible, Ireland is not."

This was more than jest. Mr. John Whelan Dulanty, the High Commissioner in London for the Irish Free State, was reported last week ready to observe the coming into effect of the de Valera Constitution next week by assuming his new title "High Commissioner for Ireland"--i.e. by implication for all Ireland, including not only the Free State but also Ulster. Mr. Dulanty was reported to have taken delivery of letterheads with his new title. Next week under its new Constitution the Irish Free State will also drop its present title and style itself "Ireland."

Day after the Irish recognition last week H. R. H. the Duke of Aosta sailed from Naples to become the new Viceroy of Ethiopia.

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