BITTER POLITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 11

BITTER POLITICS

IRISH FREE STATE MR. COSGRAVE WARNED THREAT OF ARREST ATTACKS ON CABINET , CHALLENGE DEFIED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 23, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Sc&t. i 3 The Dublin correspondent of the Morning Post says: " As a sequel to a speech by Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, in which the Leader of the Opposition said his party intended to exercise tho right of free speech in spite of bullying and intimidation, the do Valera Government is seriously con-

templating a. supreme act of folly, namely, the arrest of Mr. Cosgrave under the Public Safety Act." The correspondent adds that, in the absence of Mr. de Valera at Geneva, the Vice-President of the Executive Council, Mr. Sean O'Kelly, presided at a meeting of the Cabinet called to consider Mr.

Cosgrave's speech. Subsequently the Irish Press, Mr. do Yalera's organ, threatened j Mr. Cosgrave with arrest if he persisted in his opposition to the Government's policy. The article stated that Mr. Cosgrave could be placed on trial before a military tribunal, i Replying to the Government's challenge the Leader of the Opposition defied it to have him arrested. He said: '' I will repeat my statements until the members of the Government have the courage to <#irry out their threats. Lack of courage is the only thing which has 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 Free State Government out of existence.