MR COSGRAVE’S ATTITUDE

Evening Star, Issue 21216, 24 September 1932, Page 13

MR COSGRAVE’S ATTITUDE

DECLINES TO BE SUPPRESSED CLAIMS RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH Pr«ss As€oci»tion—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 23. The ‘ Morning Post’s ’ Dublin correspondent says: ‘‘As a sequel to a speech by Mr Cosgrave, in which he stated that his party intended to exexcise its right of free speech, despite bullying and intimidation, the De Valera Government is seriously contemplating a supreme act of folly—namely, the arrest of Mr Cosgrave under the Public Safety Act. Mr Sean O’Kelly presided at a Cabinet meeting to consider the speech, following which the ‘lrish Press,’ Mr De Valera’s organ, threatened Mr Cosgrave with arrest if he persisted in opposition to the Government’s policy, the article adding that Mr Cosgrave could be placed on trial before a military tribunal. Replying to the Government’s challenge, Mr Cosgrave defied the Government to arrest him, adding that he will repeat the statements until the members of die Government have the courage to carry out their threats, lack of courage being the only thing that lias prevented them from taking action already.” The ‘ Morning Post ’ expresses the opinion that the arrest of Mr Cosgrave would precipitate a crisis, which would sweep the Government out of existence.