IRISH POLITICS

Southland Times, Issue 22096, 17 August 1933, Page 7

IRISH POLITICS

DIFFICULT POSITION COSGRAVE PARTY AND BLUE SHIRTS MILITARY TRIBUNAL (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rcc. 7.25 p.m.) London, August 16. Serious consultations are taking place between members of the Cosgrave Party in view of a possible election. The position between the Blue Shirts and the Cosgraveites is serious, and it is rumoured that Mr Cosgrave is being urged to resign in order to show a united front against Mr de Valera. Several of Mr Cosgrave’s ex-Minis-ters are Blue Shirts, and want to see General O’Duffy in the leading place of a possible administration, but Mr Cosgrave and his intimate friends are opposed to the introduction of General O’Duffy. The Free State Cabinet, after a meeting lasting three hours, decided to establish a military tribunal to deal with political offences. The Irish Gazette officially notifies additions to the Free State Constitution by which a special tribunal can be established giving the police powers of questioning and arrest on suspicion, including suspicion of membership of associations deemed unlawful, also the banning of public meetings. The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says it is assumed that the military tribunal will be established almost immediately. It may, under the Public Safety Act, impose unrestricted penalties, including flogging and death for political offences. It may hold secret trials, against which there is no appeal. The Government has ordered the Board of Works to remove the statue of Queen Victoria standing on the lawn in front of the entrance of Leinster House before the Dail Eireann reassembles. General O’Duffy, leader of the National Guard, following ecclesiastical intervention, cancelled Church parades for Sunday next on the grounds that the ecclesiastical law does not permit parades in Church precincts, but he substituted an assembly of Blue Shirts in each district at which two minutes’ silence will be observed in honour of Griffiths, Collins and O’Higgins, after which the commanders will read an important message from General O’Duffy. General O’Duffy states that the time, place and district of the parades will be decided by local commanders. When asked whether the parades will be held on Sunday, he declined to answer. WITHDRAWAL OF ARMS VALUABLES SENT TO ENGLAND. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.55 a.m.) London, August 16. The Dublin correspondent of the News-Chronicle says that the transfer on a big scale to Britain of valuables, including pictures, jewellery and heirlooms stored in Irish banks, is following the withdrawal of arms, because insurance companies declare that their policies do not cover a "civil commotion.” The banks, deprived of arms, are installing tear-gas equipment.