AIM AT NATIONAL REUNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19598, 19 September 1933, Page 7

AIM AT NATIONAL REUNION

CLOSING THE RANKS IN FREE STATE MASSED GATHERING OF UNITED OPPOSITION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON. September 17. The United Ireland Party opened its campaign at Thurles with a parade of the National Guard and Blue Shirts, carrying the Free State tricolour, in the presence of General O'Duffy, Mr Cos grave, Mr McDermott and Mr Dillon. An orderly crowd from six counties included many ex-servicemen. The Dean of Cashel wrote saying he was finished with politics because all must combine to save the nation. Policy of New Combination General O'Duffy expressed a hope for a speedy national reunion. He said the Republicans gave caretful lip service to an ideal which they are careful not to fulfil, their methods of seeking peace being to plunge Ireland into an external quarrel. If Ireland could get rid of the Bedlam generalissimo, and the incompetent staff and end the waste and livelihood of the best material, it would be the best way to win. The United Party would lend farmers £2,000.000 for stock if elected. It was clear that Mr de Valera was demanding a dictatorship. Let him take warming. He could not illegalise by his own fiat things that were inherently lawful. If he attempted to pervert the law to abolish the law abiding movement on the pretext of political danger, his Government would be speedily and sharply ended. Mr Cosgrave declared that the economic war was maintained as the Government’s greatest political asset. The United Party advocated the opening of external markets, competing in the British market with other countries. There was nothing un-Irish in selling produce to Britain. Mr de Valera had ruined Ireland, as a result of engineering an illegal, dishonest movement, by picking a quarrel with Britain, leaving Ireland to pay the cost otf his folly. Mr de Valera knew how to encourage disobedience of the law, but was stem with farmers not paying their rates. The Government struck the first blow in civil war in bringing the Waterford farmers before a military tribunal. Its mud policy reduced the farmer to a sorry position. Mr McDermitt and Mr Dillon also spoke. Labour’s Fusion Proposals. Mr Norton, the Labour Leader, gave his Kildare constituents details of Labour’s counter fusion agreement with the Government, which he endorsed. Mr de Valein had guaranteed provision for widows’ and orphans* pensions, financial assistance to the unemployed, increased house building, and also consultations with Labour regarding higher wages on relief schemes, and all projected legislation. Labour was not bartering its identity. The arrangement would permit of a united front against Britain’s challenge against Irelands independence. Appeal to Reason. The Dublin correspondent of the 'Empire News,” referring to Mr Mc- > Dermott’s statement that a “higher authority counselled a settlement of the land annuities dispute.” declares that the personage meant is the Pope. Dr. Paschal Robinson, Papal representative at Dublin, frequently consulted the Pope in this connection, end recently interviewed the Primate otf Ireland. Mr McDermott's pronouncement encouraged hopes that peace is assured, as with the Pope's support, it could not fail.