DANGER TO PEACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 196, 21 August 1933, Page 7

DANGER TO PEACE.

SUPPRESSION MOVE.

De Valera Says Blue Shirts Will Be Made Illegal.

SAFETY ACT PENALTIES

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 1.30 p.m.) DUBLIN, August 20.

Mr. de Valera, speaking at Thurlcs, said: "I have received reports that parades of Blue Shirts in uniform were held. The Government will oertainly proclaim that organisation illegal. Its members would then be subject to penalties under the Public Safety Act. I regret General O'Duffy's intentions and deplore this definite attempt to rake the embers of civil war.

"The fundamental point of our programme is to unite the people and obliterate the memories of past dissensions. General O'Duffy's tactics have stopped our progress. Though I say General O'Duffy, I believe he is only a cat's paw.

"If he wants to know Irish opinion of dictators he had better read our history. We could ordinarily afford to laugh at. such antics, but when one tries to organise ex-soldiers and to adopt symbols and methods associated with dictatorships abroad, it is time to cry a halt.

"Either be must accept democratic rule or force, because we see in the Blue Shirts the beginning of force. We will never permit such a body to organise and become the menace I believe it could be. General O'Duffy declares that his organisation is necessary to combat Communism, but the latter is fast disappearing in consequence of our policy."

Mr. de Valera emphasised that there was no necessity for an early election as he was satisfied of the solidarity of the Government. "We are winning all along the line," he said, in conclusion.