REBELLION PLOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23546, 5 January 1940, Page 8

REBELLION PLOT

IRISH REPUBLICANS DISCUSSION IN DAIL MINISTER'S DISCLOSURE' GOVERNMENT CRITICISED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received January 4, .5.5, p.m.) DUBLIN. Jan. 3 The Minister of Lands, Mr. Gerald Boland, speaking at the emergency session of the Dai], said that the terrorism against which the Government was seeking powers amounted to a threat of rebellion. He disclosed that the police had seized packets of American dollars consigned to the Trish Republican Army, which was highly organised and possessed large quantities of arms. It was sometimes said that the Irish Republican Army intended to raid Northern Ireland, and sometimes that it intended to carry out a coup in Dublin. Of the 1,084,000 rounds of ammunition taken from the Phoenix Park Fort two weeks ago, 234,000 rounds had notbeen recovered. The Minister said that terrorists held classes for teaching the manufacture of explosives. He added that 150 men participated in the Phoenix Park raid. Challenged to Resign Mr. W, T. Cosgrave, Leader of the Opposition, alleging that the Government had failed in its duty regarding activities in England and Eire of the Irish Republican Army, said: ''The Government does not appear likely to last long. If it had any sense of responsibility or a spark of patriotism it would not only resign as a Government but would retire from public life. "Ministers know well that some years ago, when they themselves were seeking the ammunition concerned, they did not dare to enter the fort. Mr. de Valera is reaping the harvest of the seeds sown in 1923, when he sabotaged the Army and paralysed the police after assuming office." Prime Minister in Reply Jn.reply, the Prime Minister, Mr. de Valera, said: "Everyone knows that armed men are at large who generally do not want to recognise the Constitution and are ready to use arms whenever it suits them. "These men are prepared to embroil Eire with her neighbours. The Irish people have given the Government the sole power of determining how national policy shall be prosecuted." Emergency Bill Passed Mr. Boland's Emergency Powers Bill, authorising the internment of suspected persons without trial, was read a second time by 92 votes to 10. The Dail finally passed the bill by 82 votes to 9. It will come before the Senate to-morrow. The Eire Government has made representations to Britain regarding the members of the Irish Republican Army sentenced to death on December 14, following upon Eirean public bodies' demands for intervention.

DETECTIVE SHOT DIES FROM HIS WOUND OUTRAGE IN IRELAND ARMED MEN DETAINED (Received January 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 4 Three patrolling detectives in Patrick Street, the principal thoroughfare in Cork, challenged two men they knew to be members of the Irish Republican Army, one of whom immediately fired. The bullet hit Detective Officer Roche near the heart. The wounded officer's colleagues were about to draw revolvers when a crowd rushed to their assistance. Both the suspects were detained. Roche died subsequently.