MINISTRY DEFIED

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 5

MINISTRY DEFIED

IRISH SITUATION OPPOSITION LEADERS’ STAND THREAT OF ARREST (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) Dublin, September 26. “I defy them. Let them do their damnedest. We are going to carry on despite threats and intimidation,” declared Mr Kevin O’Higgins, founder of the “White Army,” in replying to the threats of Ministers that criticism of Ministers was tantamount to treason. He added: “Moreover, the White Army is going to call things by their proper names. Cowards will be called cowards and blackguards blackguards.” An ex-Minister, Mr Mulcahy, similarly accepted the challenge when speaking at Bray, where the White Army ejected a hostile section of the audience. He declared: “Nobody supposes Mr Cosgrave or Mr Mulcahy will be imprisoned; firstly, because Mr de Valera who has scrupulously refrained from personal abuse, dislikes his followers’ Eliminations, and secondly, the leaders of both parties were restrained by responsibility due to the existence of the Irish Republican Army and the White Army, everyone desiring to prevent their clashing.” Meanwhile, Ministers are anxiously and hastily attempting to prop the collapsing structure, fearing Labourites’ discontent and farmers’ co-operation with Labour, which would be a new phenomenon in Irish politics.