NO PARADE ALLOWED

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1933, Page 7

NO PARADE ALLOWED

Irish govt.’s action TO AVOID CONFLICT [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] DUBLIN, August 11. The Irish Free State Government has imposed a ban on the proposed parade on Sunday here of the Blue Shirts under General O’Duffy. The Government’s ban takes the form of a proclamation signed by Mr. Ruttledge, the Minister of Justice. The proclamation states that, in exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section Twenty-four, Article 2A, oi the Public Safety Act, the Minister has prohibited the holding of such meeting within one day before or three days after tire day and the time that had been fixed for the parade. The leader of the Blue Shirts, General O’Duffy, interviewed at his house, which is heavily guarded by the police, said: “In the interests of peace and order, I have decided to call off the parade. I will not, on a solemn occasion, when we are commemorating the death of -three of Ireland’s greatest sons, risk the danger of disorder owing to the Government’s action.” He added that the National Guard, instead would on Sunday, August 20, hold church parades and solemn memorial services in each district. “The National Guard cannot be suppressed by any party or Government.” he said. “Our determination is to raise the whole Irish nation out of the ignominy of party politics.” General O’Duffy’s plans had included one to have five hundred Blue Shirts in civilian dress posted in the vicinity of the Michael Collins memorial to defend their marching comrades if attacked. MR. COSGRAVE’S DENIAL. DUBLIN, August 12. In consequence of the banning of the parade, the Cosgrave Party have decided not to attend the Cenotaph ceremony. Mr. Cosgrave, in a statement, said: “This ceremony has been a public act of homage and gratitude for ten years to men who restored Ireland to the comity of Nations. If the public are not permitted to attend, the ceremony loses its meaning.” Mr. Cosgrave declares: “The Government story that, the Opposition is preparing a coup d’etat is fantastic nonsense, and merely an attempt to divert attention from the Government’s disastrous policy, which is ruining agriculture. We opposce all coups or conspiracies, whatever their origin, and invito the Government to do the same.” DE VALERA’S STATEMENT. DUBLIN, August 12. Mr. De Valera, in a statement, said that the Free State Government was of the opinion that the organisation calling itself the National Guard -was clear-

ly opposed to tho liberty of the citizens of the Free State, and that plainly, its leaders were prepared, in favourable circumstances to resort to violent means to obtain its ends. He stated that, advantage had been taken of the Government’s leniency. The fact was that considerable quantities of arms were held by this organisation and by other organisations in the Free State. In such circumstances, he said, clashes might lead to conditions bordering on anarchy, as such classes had done in other countries. The Government was determined now to allow such a. situation to develop. It appealed for, and it expected, the co-operation of every good Irishman. POLICE GUARD LAWN. DUBLIN, August 12. Despite General O’Duffy’s decision to abandon the parade the police fear that, the Blue Shirts may forcibly attempt to enter Leinstei- Lawn in Dublin, which is open only to those in possession of Government permits, and to place a. wreath on the cenotaph. The Blue Shirts keenly resent, their exclusion. Consequently one hundred heavily armed police will guard Leinster Lawn. The Blue Shirts’ anger is increased by tho knowledge that many opponents of the late Arthur Griffiths and Michael Collins hold permits. Mr. De Valera’s new force lias been issued with three hundred rifles, eight Thompson guns, one Lewis gun, three whippet armoured cars and a “hooded terror.” Recruiting continues regardless of the Civic Guards’ regulations in respect of age, height and education. A QUIET SUNDAY. DUBLIN, August. 13. Martial law, virtually, is in force in the city, which is calm, but is wondering whether to-day will pass quietly. Nobody doubts, however, that the Blue Shirts, in spite of their resentment, will obey General O’Duffy’s order and refrain from the demonstration, but accidents happen, especially in Ireland. The Government have chosen five Army officers to constitute a special tribunal, this being empowered, under tho Public Safety Act. to impose the death penalty. General O’Duffy is identifying himself with the Cosgraveites, and will ignore the Michael Collins commemoratiton. He says he will not place any wreath on the memorial until the National Guard is permitted to parade in public. A large congregation attended the Anniversary Mass on Saturday in memory of Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith's and General O’Higgins. Two hundred premits were issued to visitors to place wreaths on the Cenotaph to-day. No others will bo allowed to enter Leinster Lawn. NO CHANCES TAKEN. (Received August 14. 9 a.m.) DUBLIN, August 13. At noon, all was quiet. An armoured car, with turrets closed, and soldiers with machine-guns, were patrolling in the vicinity of the Cenotaph. The Blue Shirts parade is superseded by a parade of police and civic guards. As the citizens were leaving Mass, the police flung cordons across all the Cenotaph approaches, questioning all seeking to pass. The police formed long lines in the principal streets, at eleven o’clock, concentrating on O’Connell Street, where tho Blue Shirts planned to assemble. GUARDS RESCUE BLUE SHIRTS (Recd. August 14, 11 a.m.) DUBLIN, August 13. Shortly after noon, uniformed Blue Shirts made their first appearance on-

the streets, when six emerged from the headquarters and were immediately attacked by large crowds. The Blue Shirts who were unarmed, fought fiercely. The Civic. Guards rushed to their assistance. Drawing batons, they fought back the crowds and encircled the Blue Shirts, who were badly cut. on the face and body, and escorted them back to the headquarters. The opening of the cinemas and public houses helped to vacate streets in the afternoon. No Blue Shirts were visible. General O’Duffy left his home for an unknown destination. Rain damped the hopes of the sightseers. The police guard at the cenotaph dispersed at four o’clock, when the memorial was closed. It was surrounded by expectant journalists and photographers, but the relatives of Griffiths and Collins, despite the possession of permits, absented themselves. Small groups prayed at the Glasnevin graves, but for the first time since Michael Collins’s death, no bugles sounded nor were wreaths laid on the cenotaph. O’DUFFY’S HOPES PARIS, August 13. “We shall be masters of Ireland in three years,” declared General O’Duffy to a representative of the Paris “Le Soir.” “We don’t want politics or politicians, but a disciplined wellgoverned country, when we hope to persuade Northern Ireland to join us. This revolution is inevitable.” DUBLIN CITIZENS CALM. (Recd. August 14, 2 p.m.) DUBLIN, August 13. Two men leaving the National Guards’ headquarters, to-night, were beaten before the police were able to intervene. They were taken to the hospital, with serious injuries. General O’Duffy, in a statement, 1 said: “If th e National Guard’ is banned, I every member must be arrested withcut discrimination, and must be tried 1 under martial law. A large intern- 1 ment camp capable of holding tens of <

thousands must be erected. All who deplore coercion will rally to our movement. The Government’s mobilisation of the army, and the recruitment of a new machine-gun squad, in order to protect its Ministers, reveals its unpopularity. I challenge Ministers to produce a scrap of secret or other information reflecting on the National Guards’ integrity.” Apart from incidents at noon and tonight, in the vicinity of the National Guard headquarters, Dublin, facing an imposing display of force, spent the day in practically complete calm. Citizens were apparently astonished by the completeness of the Government’s precautions, which were evidently directed as much against Communists as against the Blue Shirts.

General O’Duffy expresses the opinion that the former were chiefly responsible for the Government’s action, as they have been assembling at Dublin during the past few days, with the object of causing mischief. He described the banning of the parade as a mere incident not affecting the progress of the National Guard along constitutional lines.

Asked whether the present development was awkward for the Guard, General O’Duffy replied': It is awkward for the Government. If to-day’s Dublin parade would have been illegal, well the' projected Blue Shirt gatherings throughout the Free State next Sunday will be illegal.