IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY ACCUSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1939, Page 5

IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY ACCUSED

Threats to Blow Up Palaces and House of Commons BANK OF ENGLAND ALSO MENACED EVIDENCE FOUND BY BELFAST POLICE By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, February 4. Police in the course of a raid on Republican Army adherents houses in Belfast are reported to have found plans to blow up Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the House of Commons and the Bank of England. The documents are regarded as of sufficient seriousness to justify their being flown to London, leading to a conference between Home Office and Scotland Yard officials. After the explosions, believed to have been caused by time-bombs hidden in suitcases -in cloakrooms at the Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square tube stations on Friday morning, it is now alleged that the Irish Republican Army presented an ultimatum to Lord Halifax on January 12, giving Britain four days to remove troops from Ireland. Police maintain a night-long patrol of the, Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where their Majesties and the Princesses are spending the weekend. Four detectives guard Mr Malcolm MacDonald’s home near Chelmsford. Revolvers have been issued to Bristol police after the receipt of anonymous notes threatening the destruction of local petrol tanks. Meanwhile, in spite of the presence of police at unexpected points, life in London is perfectly normal. There is no sign of apprehension.

At Liverpool police are protecting the Mersey tunnel railway bridge. Guards are stationed in the British Broadcasting Corporation’s studios in Bristol and the electric power station in Portishead. Private property-owners are instructed to maintain watchfulness in large buildings.

Fianna Fail and Eire Government clubs throughout Donegal urge Mr De Valera to sent troops to the border as a counterblast to Lord Craigavon’s action in arming the Ulster constabulary.