hiː ˈæftɚwɚdz ɛksplˈeɪnd ðæt hiː hɐdbɪn əpˈoʊzd tə ðə pɹəpˈoʊzd ɐlˈaɪəns bᵻtwˌiːn ðə nˈæʃənəl lˈiːɡ, lˈeɪbɚɹ ænd fˈaɪənə fˈeɪl, bˌʌt dɪdnˌɑːt wˈɔnt tə kɹiːˈeɪt ɐ splˈɪt baɪ vˈoʊɾɪŋ ɐɡˈɛnst ðə pˈɑːɹɾi ɔːɹ baɪ ɐnˈaʊnsɪŋ hɪz dᵻsˈɪʒən ɪn ɐdvˈæns.
He afterwards explained that he had been opposed to the proposed alliance between the National League, Labour and Fianna Fáil, but did not want to create a split by voting against the party or by announcing his decision in advance.