BAN ON ARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21560, 3 August 1933, Page 9

BAN ON ARMS

IRISH FREE STATE | WARM DEBATE IN DAIL (REPUBLICANS EXEMPT OPPOSITION INCENSED NEED OF PHOTECTION By Telejrrapli—Press Apsoeinfion—Copyright (Received August 2, 5.5 p.m.)' ' DUBLIN. Aug. 2 fteferriim to tho week-end collection .'-' of arms, W. T. Cosgrave. in the Pail yesterday, asked Mr. do Valern to state the number of firearms collected and also the, numbers it was proposed should be collected and left uncollected. Mr. Patrick Ruttledge, Minister of Justice, said that all certificates in , respect to revolvers had been revoked. It was not in the public interest to disclose tho number of small arms concerned. 'Mr. Fitzgerald asked for an assurance that .adequate protection would be given to every person whose life was endangered, also to banks whoso property was in danger. Ho asked further that action be taken against every illegal body, whether or not it was associated with tho Government, in order to make them incapable nf assassinating people who supported the State. Mr. Ruttledge replied that the Government's actions wore perfectly All protection necessary had been and would be given. , Mr. Cosgrave Assails Government Mr. Cosgrave asked leave to raiise the matter on the motion for adjournment. As a result a* member of the Government shouted: " We gave you ' protection." I Mr. Cosgrave retorted: " You can take your protection if you like. I am able to protect myself. I have never been on the run from my fellowcountrymen, which is more than\occupants of tho front bench can say." The Speaker agreed to the debate being continued in the evening. It was resumed in the presence of a packed house. The public gallery was crowded, those present including delegates to ' the World Education Conference. Mr. Cosgrave in a short speech said tho Government was chiefly remarkable for providing a number of sensations, including the removal of Mr. McNeill and Gdneral O'Duffy, apparently staged to divert attention .from its real policy. Obeying Republican Army's Orders A tense silence, which lasted three minutes, followed Mr. Cosgrave's declaration. Eventually Mr. Ruttledge, rising amid ironical cheers, said he had expected some member of the Opposition to support Mr. Cosgrave. Tho Government had acted legally under a measure the Cosgrave Government passed in 1925. Its action was merely ii stocktaking of licences. Mr. Fitzgerald Kenny declared that Mr. Ruttlodge's statement meant that the Government had blundered and ' accordingly was blaming the Civic Guards. The revoking of the licences Was imbecility. It l(jft the banks and industrial firms unprotected. ' I The Government would not touch the Republican Army provided they did not show their guns in public. The Government was simply obeying the Republican Army's orders: Illegal Guns Not Called In Mr. MacDermot, leader of the Centre Party,, said the Government had covered itself with ridicule. Its talk of stocktaking would not deceive a baby. l No attempt had been made to recover illegal guns, although everybody knew there were more guns illegally than legally held. Mr. Costello said a -certificate for a certain firearm granted on Friday was withdrawn on Saturday. The Government could have allayed public alarm by an earlier statement. * Mr. de Valera smiled, whereupon Mr. Costello remarked: " No snigger from Mr. de Valera will allay that uneasiness." Mr. Dillon, son of the late Mr. John Dillon, said the members of the Dail Were going unarmed. They were running a risk of meeting the same fate as the Irish leader who was murdered while he was carrying no gun. Murders bad been committed in tho streets of Dublin and would recur unless precautions Were taken,. Mr. de Valera States Policy Mr. McGilligan, referring to what ho termed the scandalous behaviour of the Attorney-General regarding men charged with illegal possession of arms, said the Republican Army had formulated the policy and the Government had implemented it. Mr. de Valera, in replying, said the Government aimed, firstly, at finding if guns were under control* and, secondly, at ensuring that they were 1 iot used improperly. There n'as a large proportion of arms in the hands of supporters of the Opposition. The Government was determined not to allow any private armies to parade in uniform qr with guns in public places. The removal of the oath of allegiance had eliminated the reasons lor • the existence of the Republican Army and the excuse for anybody using force or possessing arms. The Free State had enjoyed greater peace and security in the last lo months than in the previous 10 years, said Mr. de Valera. Ex-Minister Causes Uproar Air. Patrick Hogan, an ex-Minister, declared that all Sir. dc Valera's acts aimed at justifying his own criminal past. He continued, amid uproar, to characterise Mr. dc Valera as a " incticujous lover of constitutionalism who never was such a pettifogger or so insincere as when ho thumped the table in the Dail." This was only a trick to create a fccare against the National Guard. It Would not work, t General O'Duffy makes no secret of his intention eventually to participate in polities', although he has promised not to attempt a coup d'et:\t. Nevertha-, less his programme is attracting largo ■numbers of young men from all quarters' and obviously the National Guard will play an important part in tho future. Ihe Dublin correspondent of tho Times says a political situation is developing rapidly in the Irish Free State. ''Undoubtedly ,the week-end domiciliary visits to the homes of the National Guards, also to the houses of bank managers and others holding arms permits—none of which has beqn renewed since July 31—were part of the Government's campaign against the ( Guard, of which tho Government is afraid owing to General O'Duffy's J prestige and powers of organisation. Although tho Guards are not | ; ,nvowedlv Fascist their aims combino !| those oi ; Herr Hitler and Signor Musjjj fcolini.