IRISH ELECTION ON 4 OCTOBER 1961

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79S00427A000500020009-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 23, 2004
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 20, 1961
• Content Type: IM

CON~`IDENTIAL
Approved For?iRele,~,ge 2004/12/13: CIA-RDP79S00421~140f~00020009-4
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CUR.TtENT INTELLIGENCE
20 September 1961
OCI No. 3620/61 Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Irish Election on 4 October 1961
1, Offices to be filled: All 144 seats in the
new Dail ar iamen w e filled, after which the
Taioseach (prime minister) will form a new government.
The election is manda-tort' by March 1962. Since Irish
elections are based on the proportional representation
system, the results will not be known until a day or
two after the election.
2. Party Strengths (as result March 1957 elections):
Party Dail Seats
Fianna Fail ?8
Fine Gael 40
Labor 12
Sinn Fein 4
Clann na Talmhan 3
Clann na Poblachta 1
Independents g
3. Backgrounds
The two principal parties are now virtually
identical in their program and orientation, although
originally Fine Gael was distinguishable by its greater
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sympathy for retention of Commonwealth ties. It
generally receives the vote of the wealthier and
pro-British elements. Both parties are essentially
.center-oriented; they advocate strengthening `the
economy through 1i~-ited state assistance rather
than through socialism, and the ending of partition
by peaceful means. While still proclaiming Ireland's
need to maintain a neutral course, both parties have
upheld the trend toward mare active participation
in foreign affairs which Irish membership in the U1`T
has accelerated.
Prime Minister and .leader of Fianna Fa it Sean
Lemass and Fine Gael leader James Dillon will be
waging their first election campaign as party
leaders. Lemass succeeded Eamon de Valera at the
time of the letter's retirement in June 1959,
while Dillon was unopposed in his election as
president' of Fine Gael in February 1960., Each
man is 62 years old.
4. Election Outlook:
In his announcement of 9 September setting
4 October as the election date, Lemass listed Ireland's
application fbr membership in the European Economic
Community as an important reason why the election
should not be delayed, but there has been little
evidence of any widespread interest in this govern-
ment move. Fianna Fail will probably try to make
the success so far of Ireland's five-year economic
expansion program, adopted in 1959, the main cam-
paign issue. There is no indication at this time
that public concern over the Irish troops fighting
with UN forces in Katanga will be directed in crit-
icism against the government or that Fine Gael will
seek to'exploit the situation.
The Lemass government's record will make it
difficult for the Fine Gael to offer any effective
attack during the campaign. Tts leaders, as well as
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those of the Labar party, have privately conceded that
Fianna Fail will again emerge as the largest single
partyo
HUNTINGTON D. SHELDON
Assistant Director
Current Intelligence
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CONFILjEI~'TIAL
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