FOR RUIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 185, 6 August 1932, Page 9

FOR RUIN.

IRELAND'S COURSE. DE VALERA ASSAILED. Bitterly Outspoken Attacks in Dail. IMPOVERISHING PEOPLE. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright; (Received 11.30 a.m.) DUBLIN, August 5. Bitterly outspoken attacks on Mr. de Valera were made in a stormy debate on the Emergency Bill. The former Minister of Agriculture, Mr. P. liogan, declared that all pseudo, spurious, patriotic platitudes should be dropped. Why give the people the idea thai fighting Britain is good business when Ireland's best interest is to end the quarrel, he asked. It was perfectly obvious a settlement was possible if Mr. de Valera dropped his political humbug. There was no legal case to retain the annuities. Ireland was put in the position of attempting a sharp practise. Mr. Anthony (Tnd. Lab.) said the present position was produced to satisfy the spite and malice of several important but malignant Free State officials actuated by hatred toward Britain. "We are called anti-Irish if we criticise the Government, and told we will be shot. That is the meaning of the threats translated into common English. "There is more moral cowardice in Ireland than anywhere in the world. The power behind Mr. de Valera is composed of potential looters, bank robbers and everything that is evil." . Mr. Norton, the Labour leader, criticised the Government, but gave' no hint of Labour withdrawing its support. He said Mr. de Valera had shown no decisive policy or concrete plan for dealing with the emergency.

The former Minister of Justice, Mr. J. Fitzgerald-Kenny, considered that the country was unmistakably heading for revolution accompanied by bloodshed and violence owing to' the poverty to which Mr. de Valcra's actions would bring the State. A republic oil the Russian lines would emerge from that state of affairs. Mr. Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin, appealed on behalf of the poor, whose hardships were increasing owing to idle shipyards and docks. He referred to thinly veiled threats against the Government's opponents, and appealed to the Executive to prevent further casualties. Mr. Briscoe, a Government supporter, denied the threats, and added that the Government wished to hear all without intimidation. Mr. de Valera's Hopeless Outlook. Mr. de Valera, replying, said it was impossible to indicate- how the £2,000,000 to be raised by the Supplementary Estimates would be spent as the emergency developed. lie admitted that lie saw little prospect of establishing alternative markets, arid did not think it was worth while making a tremendous effort to get them. "We will not enter further commitments or make further payments. I have never made a fetish in any form. The Government stood for a republic because in the face of armed resistance the Irish people chose a free Government. If my aim was to finish connection with Britain I would Avelcoine the action the British have taken. "If there was an election to-morrow 1 would take the chance for complete independence. I would rather be independent like Denmark than a member of a partnership where the advantages are accompanied 'by many disadvantages." Referring to the Empire tribunal for the settlement of the annuities dispute ho said: "We demand the right and freedom of choice for our representatives, and we will not change that position." Mr. de Valera denied that the Executive had threatened anyone. He intended to protect all irrespective of their views, and denied the existence of a secret pact between the Government and the I.R.A. The Government was preventing arms entering the country. Mr. Gorey (Cosgravo party) interjected: Arms have been landed in the last six weeks. Mr. de Valera replied in the negative. Mr. Gorey retorted: It is a lie. The Supplementary Estimate was carried by f>B votes to 43, and the Dail adjourned till October 10.