IRISH GOVERNMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1932, Page 5

IRISH GOVERNMENT

AGAIN DEFIED

BY OPPOSITION SPEAKERS.

(Times Service).

DUBLIN, September 26

“I defy them! Let them do their damnedest! We are going to carry on despite threats or intimidation,” deflated General o’Higgins^ (1 .4yh0 is 'the founder of the “White Army,” when replying- to threats by Free State Ministers that the criticism of Minister's was tantamount to treason. He add'ecl: “Moreover, the White Army is going to call things by their, proper names. A co-Ward will be called a coward, and a blackguard will be called a blackguard.” Another ex-Minister, Mr Mulcahy, similarly said he accepted the challenge, when speaking at Bray where the White Army ejected a hostile section of the audience.

Mr Mulcahy declared: Nobody sup_ posed that Mil Cosgrave or ho (Mr Mulcahy) will be imprisoned—firstly, because Mr da Valera, who has sd'upUlouslly refrained from personal abuse, dislikes his followers’ fulminations; secondly, he said, the leaders of both parties were restrained by their responsibility, due to the existence of the I.R.A. and the White Army, everyone desiring to prevent their clashing. Nleanwhile the Ministers were anxiouslly and hastily attempting to prop a collapsing structure, fearing Labourites’ discontentment and farmers co-operation which was & new phenomenon in Irish politics. Mr' Sean Leuiass, Free . State Cabinet Minister, speaking at Loughrea, stated that the Cabinet wanted to settle the Anglo-Irish dispute, but mould not be bullied to this end. Simultaneously with Mr Lemass’ statement, an ex-Minister, Mr Fitzgerald, announced the deision of the Cosgrave Party to exert pressure to force Mr d®. Valera to end the economic war with England.