MR DE VALERA.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20619, 8 August 1932, Page 11

MR DE VALERA.

OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM BITTER DEBATE IN THE DAIL. CHARGE OF POLITICAL HUMBUG. (CirtTE» TKB6S ASSOCIATION— BI BLICTXI3 HSLSOBAPH—COPTWQHT.) DUBLIN, August 5.^ Bitterly outspoken attacks on Mr E. de Valera (President of the Tree State Executive Council) wore made at a stormy debate in tho Dail, on the Emergency Estimates Bill. Mr Patrick Hogan (ex-Minister for Agriculture) declared that all psoudo and spurious patriotic platitudes should be dropped. "Why give tho people tho idea that fighting England is good business, when Ireland's best interest is to end the quarrel?" he asked. "It is perfectly obvious that a settlement ■was possible if Mr de Valera had dropped his political humbug. There is no legal case for the retention of the land annuities by Ireland." Mr Hogan doscribed the position as an attempt at sharp practice. Mr Bichard Anthony (Independent Labour) said the present position had been produced to satisfy tho spite and malice of several important but malignant Free Staters, who were actuated by hatred of England. "Wo are called anti-Irish if we criticise the Government, and told we will be shot. That is the meaning of those threats, translated into common English. Thero 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 evil." Mr William Norton (Labour Leader in tho Dail) 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 for 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 do Valera's actions would bring the State. A republic on Russian lines would emerge therefrom. Mr J. J. Byrne (Lord Mayor of Dublin) appealed on behalf of the poor, whose hardships were incicasing owing to the idle shipyards and docks. Mr Byrne referred to "thinly-veiled" threats against the Government's opponents. He appealed to the Executive Council to prevent further casualties. Mr Robert Briscoe, a Government supporter, denied the threats, and added that the Government wished to hear all without intimidation. Policy of Independence. Mr de Valera, replying, said it was impossible to indicate how the money (£2,000,000 in the Supplementary Estimates) would bo spent. It would bo used as an emergency developed. He admitted he saw little prospect of establishing alternative markets, and he did not think it worth while making a tremendous effort to get them. "We shant' enter further commitments, or make further payments," ho said. "I have never made a fetish of any form of Government. I have stood for a republic because, in the face of armed resistance, the Irish people chose a free Governmnt. If my aim was to finish our connexion with Great Britain I would welcome the action that Great Britain has taken. If there were an election to-morrow I would take my chance for complete independence. "I would rather bo independent like Denmark than be a member of a partnership where advantages are accompanied by many disadvantages."

Referring to the proposed tribunal (to arbitrate on the disputed land annuities) he said: "We demand tho right of freedom in the choice of our representatives. We won't change that position."

Mr de Valera denied that tho Executive threatened anyone. It intended to protect all, irrespective of their views. Ho denied the existence of a secret pact between the Government and the Irish Republican Army. The Government was preventing arms from entering the country. A Cosgrave supporter, Mr D. J. Gorey, interjected: "Arms were landed within the last six weeks."

Mr de Valera replied with a negative, to which Mr Gorey retorted: "That is a lie!"

The Estimates were carried by 58 votes to 43, and the Bail adjourned until October 10th.