IRISH BLUE SHIRTS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1933, Page 5

IRISH BLUE SHIRTS

PARADE BANNED

GENERAL O’DUFFY’S DECISION.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.)

DUBLIN, August 11

The Irish Free State Government has imposed a ban on the proposed parade on Sunday here of the Blue Shirt,- (National Guard) under General U’Duffy. The Governmentt’s ban takes the form of a proclamation signed by Mr lluttledge, the Minister of Justice. The proclamation states that in exercise of the powers conferred on him under the Public Safety Act, the Minister lias prohibited the lidding of isuch meeting within one day before or three days after the day and the

time that had been fixed for the parade.

Gfcnera 1 O’Duffy was prepared for this contingency. He will merely lay a wreath of cornflowers on the Grif-fiths-Collins memorial at Leinster House.

Interviewed at his house which is heavi’y guarded by the police, General O’Duffy said: “In the interests of peace and order, I have decided to call off the parade. I will not, on a solemn occasion, when wo are commemorating tho deaths of three of Ireland’s greatest sons,, risk the danger of disorder owing to the Government’s action.” ‘ He added that the National Guard, instead would on Sunday, August 20, ho’d church parades and solemn memorial services in each district,

The National Guard cannot be suppressed by any party or Government,” he said. ‘Our determination is to raise the whole Irish nation out of .the ignominy of party politics.”

General O’Duffy’s plans had included one to have five hundred Blue Shirts in civi’ian dress posted in the vicinity of tile Micheal Collins memorial to defend their marching comrades if attacked. Armoured cars have been massed a t the Porfobello barracks, and large forces of police have been drafted to tho city. The detectives visited the who’esale chemists and they ordered them to report if aiiy customers were buying large quantities of bandages, surgical dressings or chemicals for the manufacture of explosives.

POLICE FEAR BLUE SHIRTS ARMS FOR DE VA'LERA’S FORCE'S DUBLIN,' August 12. Despite General O’Duffy’s (decision to abandon the parade, the police fehr that the Blue Shirts may forcibly attempt to enter Leinster Lawn in Dublin, which is open only to those possessing Government' permits, nnd to place a wreath on the cenotaph. The Blue Shirts keenly resent their exclusion.

Consequently one hundred heavily armed police wi’l guard Leinster Lawn. The Blue Shirts’ anger ri increased by the knowledge- that many opponents of the late Arthur Griffiths and Michael Colling hold permits Mr de Va’era’s new forces has been issued with three hundred rifles, eight Thompson guns, one Lewis gun, three whinpet armoured cars and a “hooded terror.”

Recruiting continues regardless of the Civic Guards’ regulations in respect of age, height and education. In consequence of the banning of the parade, the Cosgrave party have decided not to attend the Cenotaph ceremany. Mr Cosgrave, in a statement, .said: “This ceremony has been a public act of homage and gratitude for ten years to men who restored Ireland to the comity of Nations. If the public are not permitted to attend, the ceremony loseii its meaning.”

Martial law, virtually, ig in force iii the city, which is calm, hut is wondering whether to-day will pass quietly. Nobodv doubts, however, that the Blue Shirts, in spite of their resentment, will obey General O’Duffy’s order and refrain from the demonstration. but accident, j happen, especially in Ireland.

The Government have chosen five Army Officers to constitute a special tribunal, this being empowered, under the Public Safety Act, to impose the death penalty. General O’Duffy is identifying himself with the Cosgraveites, and will ignore the Michael Collins comineroration. He say* ho will not ulace any wreath on the memorial until the National Guard is permitted to parade in public.

STATEMENT BY DE VALERA REGARDING NATIONAL GUARD DURIAN. August 12. President do Valera, in a statement, said that the Free State Government was of the opinion that the organisation called itself the National Guard was clearly opposed to the liberty of the oityiens of the Free State, and that rlainlv. its lender,, were, prepared, in favourable circumstances to resort to violent means to obtain its ends. He stated that advantage had been taken of tha Government’s leniency.

I The fact wag that considerable quan- ! titles of arms were held by till** .fitj ganisation and by other organisations in the Free State. In such circmh-

stances, lie said, clashes might lead to

conditions bordering on anarchy, as r.uoh clashes had done in other countries. The Government was de.termin-

ed now to allow such a situation to develop. It appealed for, and it expected, the co-operation of every good Irishman.

QUIET SUNDAY IN DUBLIN.

POLICE TAKE PRECAUTIONS,

(Received this day at 10 a.m.l DUBLIN, August 13

At noon all was quiet, an armoured car with turrets closed, and soldiers by machine guns, patrolling in the vicinity of the cenotaph. The Blue Shirts parade is superseded by a parade of police and Civic Guards. As citizens were leaving Mass, the police flung cordons across all Cenotaph approaches, questioning all seeking to pass. The police formed long lines in the principal streets at eleven o’clock concentrating on O’Connell Street, Leinster Lawn and Stephen Green, whero the Blue Shirts planned fo assemble.