DEBATE IN DAIL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1933, Page 11

DEBATE IN DAIL

GOVERNMENT BLAMED

DEFENCELESS PEOPLE

DUBLIN, August 1. t The debate in the Dail on tho Arms question opened before a packed house; the public gallery also was crowded, those xjresent including delegates to the World Education Conference. Mr. Cosgrave, in a short speech, said the Government was chiefly xemarkablo for providing a number of sensations, including the removal of 'the GovernorGeneral (Mr. • James McNeil) ; and General O'Duffy, which had apparently been staged to divert attention from its real policy. .... A tense'silence of three minutes* followed Mr. Cosgrave's declaration. Eventually Mr. Buttledge rose amid ironical'cheers. He said he ha& expected some supporter of Mr. Cosgrave to rise in support of his leader. He added that the Government bad acted legally under a measure Mr. Cosgrave passed in 1925. Its action was'merely a stocktaking of licences. Messrs. Fitzgerald and Kenny declared that Mr. Kuttledge's statement meant that the Government had blundered, and accordingly was blaming tho Civic Guards. Tlie revoking, of licences was an imbecility, leaving banks and industrial firms unprotected. The Government would not touch tho Republican Army provided it did not show guns in public. Tho Government was simply obeying tho Republican Army's orders. •..■■''-..•"'• ILLEGAL GUNS. Mr. McDermot, leader of the Centre Party, said that the Government--had covered itself with ridicule. Talk of stocktaking would not deceive a baby. No attempt had been made to recover illegal guns, although everybody knew where more guns illegally than legally were held. Mr. Costollo, emphasising that a certain firearms certificate granted on Friday was withdrawn on Saturday, said that tho Government could have allayed public alarm by an earlier statement. Mr. do Valera smiled, wlioTeupon Mr. ;Costello remarked: "No snigger from Mr. de Valera will allay that uneasiness." ' ■Mr. Dillon, son of the late John Dillon, said that members of the Dail going unarmed were running the risk of the fate of an Irish leader who was murdered while carrying no gun. He added that the murders which had been committed in Dublin streets would recur unless precautions were taken. Mr. McGnliganj referring to what lie termed the scandalous behaviour of the Attorney-General regarding men charged with illegal possession of arms, said that the Bepubliean Army formulated the policy and tho Government implemented it. . . . , ... MR. DE VALERA'S REPLY Mr. do Valera, replying, said that the Government aimed first at finding if guns were under control,.and, secondly, at ensuring that they were not used improperly. "There is a largo proportion of arms in the hands of supporters of the Opposition," said Mr. de Valera. "Tho Government is determined not to allow any private armies to parade in uniform or with guns in public places. The removal of the oath eliminated the reasons for the existence of the Republican Army or an excuse for anybody using force or possessing arms. Tho Free State has had greater peace and security in the last eighteen months than in any previous ten years." Mr. Hogan, an ex-Minister, declared that all Mr. de Valera's acts were aimed at justifying "Ms own criminal past." He continued, amid uproar, characterising Mr. de Valera as "a meticulous lover of constitutionalism, who■ was never such a pettifogger or so insincere as when lie thumped tho table in the Dail." "This is only a trick to create a scare against tho National Guard," Mr. Hogan added. "It won't work!"