FREE SPEECH

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 5

FREE SPEECH

RIGHTS IN IRELAND MR COSGRAVE DEFIES GOVERNMENT THREAT OF ARREST (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) London, September 23. The Dublin correspondent of the Morning Post says that as the sequel to a speech by Mr W. T. Cosgrave, in which he stated that his party intended to exercise their rights of free speech despite bullying and intimidation, the de Valera Government is seriously contemplating a supreme act of folly, namely, ths arrest of Mr Cosgrave under the Public Safety Act. Mr Sean O’Kelly, Vice-President of the Executive, presided at a Cabinet meeting to consider the speech following which the Irish Press, Mr de Valera's organ, threatened Mr Cosgrave with arrest if he persisted in opposition to the Government’s policy, the article adding that Mr Cosgrave could be placed on trial before a military tribunal.

Replying to the Government’s challenge, Mr Cosgrave defied the Government to arrest him, adding that he would repeat the statements until members of the Government had the courage to carry out their threats, courage being the only thing preventing 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 Government out of existence.