STORMY SCENE IN DAIL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 30 September 1933, Page 5

STORMY SCENE IN DAIL

CENSURE DEBATE LAUNCHED MR. DE VALERA CONTRADICTED. MULCAHY’S ALLEGED TRIP. BRITISH INTERVIEW DENIED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) DUBLIN, Sept. 28. The Dail was crowded for the censure debate and the atmosphere was tense. A dozen deputies w r ore blue shirts and black ties. Mr F. MacDermott (United Ireland Party) condemned the Government’s oppressive measures in enforcing the •Publie Safety Act. He said the powers of life and death should not be handed to a few military officers unless oil the grounds, of overwhelming necessity. No crimes could be proved against the National Guard. Labour’s action in opposing action was contemptible and degrading. Mr W. Norton, leader of the Labour Party, retorted that, it was impossible to overlook the military character of the guard, -whose salute was borrowed from Hitler. General o’Duffy’s speeches were those of a would-be dictator.

Mr P. J. Ruttledge, Minister of Fisheries, said the Government had not attempted to interfere w r ith political movements, but would not tolerate semi-military movements. 'They were not going to allow civil war to develop. The blue shirt was a military emblem.

“The Government sees red when it seen blue,” interposed Dr. Thomas O ’Higgins.

TRIBUNAL DEiAIANDED,

The debate flared up when Mr do Valera interjected that the Government had definite information that General Mulcahy had recently had con- \ ersations at Glasgow with the British Minister of War.

General Mulcahy indignantly demanded a tribunal to investigate the charge.

When Mr de Valera rose he was greeted by an uproar from the Opposition and shouts of “Don’t wriggle” and “Don’t be a coward!” Hi's voice was drowned in pandemonium. Finally he declared that he welcomed General Mulcahy’s statement, as the last thing ho wanted to hear was that the Government’s information w r as correct. He gladly agreed to the tribunal. Mr de Valera emphasised that the. enforcement of the -Safety Act -was inevitable in view of the condition of the countiy. The Government had tried a policy -of patience. Dealing with the Irish Republican Army Air. de Valera said this was a movement built up in the past, but it was a different thing dealing with the recent movement which was like an army comrades’ association. Air de Valera denied Mr Hogan’s that the Safety Act had been enforced at the behest of the I.R.A.

General Mulcahy told the Press that he had had no conversations with Lord Hailsham. There was not a tittle of truth in Air de Valera’s charge. A 'London message says that Lo.’d Hailsham states he has never seen General Alulcahy and Mr de Valera’s statement is totally unfounded.