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Show IRIXAM) AT WASHINGTON. i With politics and baseball on-j on-j grossing attention, there wont t practically unnollced the other day an incident which odinarily i would have attracted wide notice. Prof. Timothy A. Smiddy called at the White House with credentials from King George and the Dublin parliament, and was recognized as the first minister from the Irish Free State. This is not only a notable innovation in-novation as far as Washington Is concerned, but it Is the first recognition recog-nition of the sort given the Irish Free State by any country in the world. Together with the admis-( admis-( sion of Ireland to the League of i, Nations, it affords new and con-' con-' vincing proof that Ireland, while J technically still a part of the Brit-, Brit-, ish Empire, is genuinely free and autonomous. i. Separate diplomatic representa-1 representa-1 tlon at Washington was proposed for Canada before there was any 1 talk of it for Ireland, yet Ireland 1. has been first in winning that cov-j cov-j etcd honor. It is not likely, now, ; that Canadian representation can t be delayed much longer. Ireland formerly insisted on the same degree de-gree of independent action that was allowed Canada. Now Canada will ! insist on having the same privileges privi-leges as Ireland. f This competition in freedom will do neither of them any harm nor ,1 Groat Britain, either, if she con- tinues treating (hem liberally. Sentimental bonds between nations i nowadays are stronger than legal i bonds. |