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    "label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Ireland, Situation Report 48",
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    "title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Ireland, Situation Report 48",
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{
    "seq": 21,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
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    "ocrText": "people is it in everyday use, and most of these live in remote western areas where the\nold tongue was never displaced. Criticism has been directed against the requirement\nthat Irish be used as a teaching medium. As a result of current investigation of the\nschools the Costello Government may relax this requirement although continuing to\npromote the language through other means. Fianna Fail objections will be vigorous,\nfor many of its adherents-and some in all parties-have always considered the revival\nof the national language essential to true nationhood and firmly believe that the\nentire present program is necessary to attain that end.\n7.\nSTABILITY OF THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION\nEvery party except De Valera's Fianna Fail is participating in the \"inter-party\nGovernment.\" They were drawn together after the election less by differences of prin-\nciple with Fianna Fail than by a common dissatisfaction with the prospect of a con-\ntinuation of its sixteen-year-old administration. Prime Minister Costello assumed office\namidst general predictions that another change of Government, and probably another\ngeneral election, would occur within a few months. The coalition has shown an unex-\npected stability, however, and its prestige has steadily mounted. Even so, its position\nis SO precarious that the withdrawal of any party or a switch of four votes could topple it.\nIf, for example, the Congress of Irish Unions should eventually be successful in its\nefforts to persuade the National Labor Party, whose support for the coalition was a\nsurprise, to switch to De Valera, the Government would fall. If the regular Labor\nParty should become dissatisfied with the Government's policies and withdraw its sup-\nport, or if party discipline within Clann na Poblachta should break down-both are\npossibilities-the Government would probably fall. If any party should come to feel\nthat it has gained appreciably in popular support, it would be strongly tempted to try\nto precipitate an election. And it is entirely possible that the Government will decide\nto call an election while it still retains a majority.\nIf a party should \"cross the floor\"- remote contingency except in the case of\nNational Labor-a Fianna Fail Government could come in without a general election.\nEven then De Valera might prefer an election in the hope of getting a clear Fianna Fail\nmajority. Barring this possibility, it is most likely that the passing of the present\nGovernment will be followed by an immediate election.\nThe Costello Government may, of course, remain in office for a full five years. An\nelection could come about at any time, however, and chances are that one will before\nthe statutory life of the present Dail expires in 1953. While in such election De Valera\nmight be returned with a Fianna Fail majority behind him, it is more likely that\nFianna Fail would merely remain the largest party. Most probably the next Govern-\nment will be another coalition, based on either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, more probably\nthe latter, which is essentially the present situation.\nSince, however, all parties accept the present democratic system and are not\ndivided by serious differences of basic outlook, any succeeding Government will probably\npursue policies not greatly unlike those of the present group.\n17\nCRET"
}