New Britain herald., 1928-02-03
DE VALERA HOPES TO WIN ELECTION
Says His Ambition Is to Defeat
 President CoseraVt

New York. Feb. ! R - Eamonn De Valera, leader of the republican opposition to the Irish Free State forces. in an interview today ex- pressed the hope of defeating Pres ident Cossrave at | future general election.
 De Valera declared that the pres ent taxation in Ireland ts beyond the capacity of the people to pay, that Ireland is not . free country and that the country some day will De . republic. He said he intended to get rid of the oath of allegiance to Great Britain lat the first op- portunity."
 MT. De Valera said that one of the purposes of hts visit here was connected with the establishment of an Irish newspaper in Dublin.
 T have been making certain in. quiires among financial and business organizations" he said. 'and inter. esting a number of friends in the foundation of an Irish daily news paper. 2 venture involving about 2 million and g quarter dollars. It would be g stock enterprise and the paper would be devoted to printing the truth. even if the truth in news went against uh
 There is an absolute need at ths present time for an Irish daily newspaper. There is no opposition press in Ireland at present. There is no Irish paper that represents the real sentiment of the Irish peo- pie. The English papers, of which IS are circulated in Ireland. arc circulating to greater extent than the Irish. The policy of the paper we propose to establish would be [. maintain at all times the rights of the Irish people for freedom. The papers aim will be to remove ali things that are imposed by the will of an outsider on the lrtsh people,"
 MT. De Valera was asked about his stand on the new estimates which are 10 be presented shortly in the Dali Erieann.
 "Of course. l don't now what the estimates are yet" he said. but we certainly will make g fight for the reduction of taxation. especially for services that are not of produc- tive or social character. the cost of administration at present is unduly heavy and the body Of officials is too large. The salary of the higher officials also is too high. relatively speaking. No. I am not counting on swinging the dozen independents in the Dail."
 Knows of No tnn,ity
 Tn answer 10 a query regarding his personal relationships with President Cosgrave. former close friend. he said he did not know Of any personal enmity between them. ''It's simply that our views differ on the whole question of what is the right thing to do for Ireland since 1921"
 De Valera repeated that he did not expect to see Mr. Cosgrave while they were in New York, and when asked if he would pose for a picture with the Free State executive. De Valera said abruptly. No"
 After predicting that Ireland would be republic some day. De Valera was asked if he thought there would be further bloodshed in his country.
 There will always be-" he an- swered. "a body of Irishmen either working in the open or in secret for Irish independence. and they will take any means that other people have had to take to win their free dom"
 ''fs there a phantom republican army" he was asked.
 ''Well. I decline to discuss what I think or what I know" Pressed to comment on his taking the oath of allegiance, Mir. De Va lera, said:
 II started building up our politi- cal organization over year ago. Our numbers in the government from 2c up to 45 md then to 57. which is our strength today as compared with 61 for Cosgrave. Incidentally. when 1t comes down to what you Americans term shown down, the thing works out to 19 votes for Cos grave and 73 for us in the gov- ment. However, the fact that our strength has grown shows that as far as the oath of allegiance is con- cerned. the people appreciate our position.
 No Comparison
 ''1t is ridiculous to compare the Free State constitution with the American constitution. The Free State constitution was imposed by the British and that constitution in- terferes for the English in every act that is passed. 50 you cannot say we are free to make our laws. The present position has been forced on the people of Ireland by the threa, of war by England. If that threat was removed and . free vote was given by the Irish people. you woul1 get a two to one vote in favor or complete independence. That was proved in the general election of 1918. The oath of allegiance has been forced like the treaty on the Irish people but we purpose getting rid of 1t at the first opportunity.
 "Yes, I am sure all the general friends of the Irish pee pic in Amer ica want to see independence in Ire land"
 De Valera would not predict how soon he expected to see a republic set up in Ireland beyond saying. ''as soon as we can achieve it.''
 De Valera will sail for home next week,
 KAPLAN TO FIGHT MAYS