bound to have far-reaching consequences upon the political thought of the country, and upon the positions of parties and leaders.  It was thought only fair to the Nationalist members of the Committee that every precaution should be taken to prevent their being placed in a false position.  ’To avoid any possible misconception,’ the covering letter ran, ’as to the attitude of those members of the Committee who are not supporters of the present Government, it is right here to state that, while under existing political conditions they agreed in recommending a certain course to the Government, they wish it to be understood that their political principles remain unaltered, and that, were it immediately possible, they would prefer that the suggested reforms should be preceded by the constitutional changes of which they are the well-known advocates.’

It is interesting to note that the Committee claimed favourable consideration for their proposals on the ground that they sought to act as ’a channel of communication between the Irish Government and Irish public opinion.’  Little interest, they pointed out, had been hitherto aroused in those economic problems for which the Report suggested some solution.  They expressed the hope that their action would do something to remedy this defect, especially in view of the importance which foreign Governments had found it necessary to attach to public opinion in working out their various systems of State aid to agriculture and industries.  At the same time the Committee emphasised, in the covering letter, their reliance on individual and combined effort rather than on State aid.  They were able to point out that, in asking for the latter, they had throughout attached the utmost importance to its being granted in such a manner as to evoke and supplement, and in no way be a substitute for self-help.  If they appeared to give undue prominence to the capabilities of State initiation, it was to be remembered that they were dealing with economic conditions which had been artificially produced, and which, therefore, might require exceptional treatment of a temporary nature to bring about a permanent remedy.

I fear those most intimately connected with the above occurrences will regard this chapter as a very inadequate description of events so unprecedented and so full of hope for the future.  My purpose is, however, to limit myself, in dealing with the past, to such details as are necessary to enable the reader to understand the present facts of Irish life, and to build upon them his own conclusions as to the most hopeful line of future development.  I shall, therefore, pass rapidly in review the events which led to the fruition of the labours of the Recess Committee.