IRISH FREE STATE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 284, 12 September 1933, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE.

UNITED LEADER’S OBJECTIVE. SMASHING RULE OF THE GUN. (United Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, Sept. 10. “I want to smash the rule of' the gun in Ireland,” said General O’Duffy (leader of the United Ireland Party), in an interview accorded the Dublin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” “I want to build up a magnificent body of youth, which, will keep law and order by non-military methods and whjch will promote social life in the villages. The talk of the Blue Shirts being armed with revolvers and rifles is all bunkum. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of isolated villages will feel secure in the thought that there are thirty of fcit.v strapping youths JL their midst who will keep order with their strong right arms. They will be like the Fascists in many of their ideals, hut completely unlike them in their methods. Stern discipline will he maintained, hut they will make th? lives of villagers bright by the promotion of concerts, games and sports. “The first thing that the new party will do will be to end the disastrous trade war, to seek an agreement with Britain and then seek to gain the sympathy of tho six counties and hi mg about unity in Ireland. This can he done by sane Government. “I believe that a general election is near and that Mr de Valera will he defeated soon after the Dail reassembles in October.”