GENERAL O’DUFFY DEFIES DE VALERA

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 11201, 25 August 1933, Page 3

GENERAL O’DUFFY DEFIES DE VALERA

Wholesale Blue Shirt Arrests Expected PARADE ON SUNDAY. London, Aug. 24. Despatches from Dublin state that •Mr Richard Mulcahy, who was Minister of Local Government in Mr W. T. Cosgrave’s Cabinet, in the course of a speech said: “The Government’s declaration that the National Guard is an unlawful association is a lying declaration and an abuse of authority.” Continuing, Mr Mulcahy said the Fianna Fail and its frillowers had been guilty of flagrant, systematic stuffing of the ballot boxes by Impersonating voters. The Government, on the eve of an election for which it was preparing, was trying to break down the public spirit which sought to secure a full discussion of Irish problems before the electors.

The publication of Mr Mulcahy’s statement was prohibited under the Public Safety Act. The Dublin correspondent of the News Chronicle says Mr Mulcahy’s attack was so bold that It amounted almost to an invitation to Mr de Valera to have him arrested. The ex-Minis-ter is a leading member of the Blue Shirts and the Republicans hate him because he crushed them during the civil war.

The Irish Press, the organ of the Fianna Fail, expresses the opinion that the members of the National Guard probably will be given two or three days’ grace, thus providing them with an opportunity’of resigning.

The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Mall says troops are being gradually‘concentrated In the Dublin area. Presumably they are Intended to \ man detention ‘camps, whiqh wholesale arrests of Blue Shirts will render necessary. # Other despatches state that the people of the. Free State have accepted the outlawry of the Blue Shirts calmly. The Dublin leaders of the organisation expected a raid on their headquarters, but none occurred. General O’Duffy motored 100 miles to Coote Hill, County Cavan, where Blue Shirts: arrived on foot, on cycles, and in cars. The police were reinforced and watched the general and his party enter the local Town Hall, hut there was no interference.

Representatives of 160 districts attended the meeting, which was not begun until 10 p.m., owing to the necessity of awaiting distant contingents. Uniforms were worn quite openly. In the course of his speech General O’Duffy the fact that other demonstration! Dad been arranged. “Probably 1 shall not be there," he said. "Probably I shall be in Arbour Hill Prison, but that will not defeat us. I have been on plank v beds before,”; * ; . General O’Duffy announce dthat a parade arranged for next Sunday would be held. He added that he expected 40,000 Blue Shirts to participate. , ’ It was rumoured that General O’Duffy would be arrested on his return to Dublin. A later ipessage stated that he had decided to defy Mr de Valera.

The Irish Times says that either the Government is afraid to give equal treatment to the Blue Shirts and the Irish Republican .Army, or the ban on the former is an act of political revenge which may prove yfet to be the turning point in Ireland’s fortunes. If the Cosgraye party, the Centre Party and General O’Duffy’s followers unite and win the next election this will end the noraic war. '