REPUBLICAN ARMY CONSPIRACY AGAINST BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1939, Page 5

REPUBLICAN ARMY CONSPIRACY AGAINST BRITAIN

Further Revelations at Bow Street ATTEMPT TO PRODUCE PANIC By Telegraph. —Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 6. An “S Plan,” covering a wide field of activity, allegedly found in the possession of Michael O'Shea, a labourer, which the prosecution asserted was a production of the Irish Republican Army and, in conjunction with other documents, showed that the I.R.A. was active in England, was mentioned when twelve persons, charged with conspiracy, appeared at the Bow Street Police Court. The other accused, in addition to O’Shea, include Peter Stuart, a signwriter, Michael Preston, no occupation, John Mitchell, garage attendant, and Harold Sutton. The court was strongly guarded when accused entered the dock. Mr G. B. McClure, Senior Crown Prosecutor, said two further arrests had been made, one being of persons of considerable importance in the organisation. He did not disclose the whereabouts of the arrests, but intimated that those persons would be included in the conspiracy charge. Mr McClure added that the S Plan was most comprehensive and covered every field of public activity. It begins: “In order to exercise the maximum world effect, a diversion must be carried on when there is no major war or world crisis, but if carried on when trouble is anticipated, with the jumpiness and nervous expectation by the Government and potential panic among the public, it can be exploited to the full. The beginning of winter apparently is a good time, either October 20 or November 11."

Mi' McClure added that the document must have been in existence considerably before October 20, as it mentioned an ultimatum being delivered in England, demanding evacuation of Ireland. Mr McClure then read the letter to Viscount Halifax, mentioned in one of yesterday's cablegrams —an ultimatum giving Britain four days to withdraw troops from Ireland.

Mr McClure added that the S Plan stated that copies of the ultimatum were also being forwarded to Scottish and Welsh Nationalists, the Labour Party, Independent Labour Party and others. The document thereafter discussed methods of propaganda and action. Concerning the latter it pointed out: “While our weakness reduces actions aginst military, air and navall operation to a minimum, and the sabotage of aeroplane factories and munition works is probably chancy, as they were well guarded, action against public services is probably the most effective and also key industries would be accessible, with a view to crippling rearmament.” Action against other industries and commerce was possible, although the reaction might render the latter inexpedient, while “the large circulation of the English Press would be the last target.” Mr McClure explained that the document also referred to “incendiary unit number one,” while a method of attacking pillar boxes was also dealt with and telephones, telegraphs, broadcasting, electricity, and methods of secretly depositing explosives were referred to, cloak rooms constituting the first objective for incendiarism under the heading of transport, recalling the recent explosions.

“AIR OF RESPECTABILITY.”

Mr McClure continued that other documents referred to plans for explosions destroying electric cables. The S Plan referred to “moral sabotage,” regarding which there was a suggestion for securing stocks of Government stationery and rubber stamps to enable the counterfeiting of official instructions.

It added: “Our men might even join precautionary units, such as the Air Raid Precautions, to secure an air of respectability, so as to cloak their activities and gain an insight into the precautions. England cannot organise for war without a national register. Accordingly its prevention should be easy by burning depots where returns are sent.”

A telegram among the documents read: “Carry out first operations at 6 a.m. January 16,” which, Mr McClure commented, was the date of the first explosions. The telegram added: “When clock mines are used, see that they explode at the given time. No excuse for failure will be taken.” A further telegram from Lindsay, apparently a person of authority, said: “Cease operations until further notice. Will communicate shortly. Congratulations January 20.” The telegrams were in code, but the key was found among the documents. INCENDIARY BALLOONS. Mr McClure added that balloons were constantly mentioned and stores of them in every area. When Stuart was arrested, articles in his possession included a thousand rubber balloons, in addition to thirty-nine sticks of gel‘ignite. Wharton had 103 balloons. Mr McClure pointed out that balloons ignited Coventry yesterday. He added that letters in O'Shea’s possession in-

eluded one signed with the initians “P. S.”, which were Peter Stuart’s. The writer calls himself “operations officer, Britain.” The letter emphasised the need of success in “the battalion’s operations,” but the recipient was entitled to call off an operation and suggest an alternative if the operators were likely to be arrested, or civilians killed.

A letter from Dublin gave the names of volunteers living in Britain. All the prisoners were remanded.