"He's In!"

In the visitors' gallery, during the first session of Ireland's newly elected Parliament last week, a girl in a white blouse and green beret sat working at sums. As each of the 14 independent members who held the balance of power in the new government got up to speak, the busy spectator made a mark under the name "Dev" or "Costello." In the elections, two weeks before, Dev's party had won 69 seats; all other parties and the independents together had won 78. Unless the independents now voted for Prime Minister John Costello, he would not be able to form a government, and Dev would get in.

"I think Mr. de Valera will provide the best government for the country," said the Farmer Party's Patrick Cogan. The girl made a mark on her paper. "Sixty-nine and one is seventy," she murmured. "He needs four more."

Next to speak was former Health Minister Dr. Noel Browne, whose resignation over a public-health bill had brought on the election (TIME, June 11). "Costello's government was . . . against the interest of the people . . ." began Browne. The girl marked down 71 under Dev.

Three more members spoke; all favored Dev. "Seventy-two and one-seventy-three--seventy-four," counted the girl, as her pencil hovered over the page. "He's in!" she cried at last.

By a vote of 74 to 72, stubborn, hard-fighting old Eamon de Valera once more became Ireland's Prime Minister. Manhattan-born De Valera, 68, had held that job for 16 years, had seen Ireland achieve full independence, before he was defeated at the polls three years ago.

Dev's control promised to be precarious at best. "The new government will be balanced on a razor's edge," said the Irish Times. But for the moment his triumph was secure. When the new Taoiseach left the Parliament to get his seal of office from Ireland's President O'Kelly, it took 20 of Dublin's finest to hold back the cheering crowds.

As one of his first official acts, Dev announced that Ireland would not join the Atlantic Pact until Britain gave up Northern Ireland.

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