FUSION PLANS.

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 9

FUSION PLANS.

IRISH POLITICS. TRIPARTITE PACT. Centre, Cosgrave and O'Duffy Factions. ALL AGAINST DE VALERA. (Uulted P.A.-Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 1. The Centre party's executive meeting at Dublin under Mr. McDermott's chairmanship, has recommended the party convention on September 8 to accept the proposed fusion into a new organisation under the leadei'ship of General O'Duffy, in which the Cos-, grave party and the National Guard will also 1A; merged. The chairman of the organisation in the Dail would be Mr. Cosgrave, with Mr. McDermott as vice-president. The executive would consist of 12 nominated equally by General O'Duffy, Mr. Cosgrave and Mr. McDermott. The executive of the Cosgrave party decided to join in the merger. The United party will consider its decision next Friday. General O'Duffy's journal, "The Blue Shirt," declares that a general election will soon occur, and when it does the Fianna Fail must be defeated. A suggestion that General O'Duffy will be the next President caused a sensation in Dublin, where Mr. Cosgrave was expected to be the leader. It is learned that the Government is establishing the first munitions factory in the Free State, in an ex-British barracks either at Ballinchoolig or Fermoy. The "Daily Telegraph" Dublin correspondent says a definite amalgamation is almost certain, in which event there is every possibility that Mr. de Valera will appeal to the country. Tho "Daily Express" says it believes that Mr. Cosgrave, not General O'Duffy, will bo the leader of a new national party. Mr. Jeremiah Lucey, president of the Irish Cattle Trade Association, at a meeting, said that in consequence of the economic war with Britain many cattle drovers were without means of subsistence, and their families were facing starvation. The meeting decided to ask the Loi - d Mayor to call a public meeting and open a relief fund.