DE VALERA'S DEFIANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 307, 28 December 1922, Page 5

DE VALERA'S DEFIANCE

JHE SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY.

CLAIMED FOE SECOND DAIL.

LAWLESSNESS IN IRELAND.

p)j Cable.— rress Association.—Copyright}

' (TtecelTca 10.30 am.)

LONDON 7 , December 27,

Eamonn do Yalera, secretly interviewed by an American correspondent, fciterated defiance of the Free State government. He said that the aim of the Republican army was the preservation of the Republic's independence and Integrity, and to assure that disestablishment of the Republic would not be prejented to the people at next elections as |in fait accompli.

"My Government has been established |>y the second Dail, which is the sovereign authority of the nation. We will surrender that authority when the jecond Dail is permitted to meet/ he joncluded.

Though there were no serious crimes against persons, lawlessness continued pt Christmastide in Southern Ireland. £ feature of the rebel activities was »ttack= on mail carts. Hundreds of Christmas parcels were not delivered.

A number of bridges around Ath'.one, were blown up, and an attempt was made to wreck the Kerry train by means of another burning train_ which was sent elong the- line. The flames, however, died down before serious damage was done.

A meeting of the Sinn Fein clubs In Dublin Mansion House adopted a resolution in favour of convening a conference in the hope of securing a just and permanent peace. Sinn Feiners will meet for the first conference on January ~. .\ shocking tragedy occurred at a Christmas dance in Lisburn, County Down. A patrol of four constables which was passing was invited to join the festivities. Constable Patterson thought he carefully emptied the magaH'ne of his rifle before he placed the rifle In the porch. A guest, seizing the weapon, playfully pointed it into the midst of the dancers and pulled the trigger. The cartridge exploded and the bullet paesed through two men, fcadly wounding them, and killed a third. IK number of women fainted, believing that a rebel attack had commenced. ( \. end N.Z. Cable.)

Joseph McDonagh, Republican member bf the Dail for Tipperary, who was arrested three months ago, was removed from Mountjoy Gaol last week suffering from appendicitis and died in a nursing tome in Dublin. His brother was pxecuted in 1916.—(Reuter.)