Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-24
De VALERA PLANS
IRISH NEWSPAPER
Republican Leader Visits
Star Plant in Preparation.
Speaks Here Tonight.

Enthusiastic over the future prospects
Of Ireland, canon de Valera, noted
Irish patriot, visited, here today in
search Of information to aid in assure
ing the success of daily newspaper
he plans to launch soon in Dublin.
The former President Of the Irish
Republic made careful inspection Of
the office and equipment Of The Star.
He pointed out he had been in this
country since December, examining the
plants Of leading newspapers in the in
terest Of his newspaper, the Irish Press,
Limited. which will have a capital Of
81, O00, 900.
Mr.. de Valera expressed hope to do
great things for his country through
the medium Of his newspaper. One of
the first things he plans to promote IS
a protective tariff to aid Ireland's strug-
Cling industries and curb the enormous
business done in his country annually
by English manufacturers.
Lack Held Hardship.
"The lack of a protective tariff" Mr.
de Valera explained, "has worked
great hardship on our country. We
import more products from England
than any other country in the world,
regardless Of our population. Our in
dustries find it difficult to compete with
those Of England under present condi-
tons, which forces countless thousands
of our best citizens to emigrate each
year.
This situation IS acute. In 1925, for
example, statistics showed that As per
cent Of the persons Of Irish birth were
living in other countries. The fact that
they were unable to find work at home
accounts for this. We hope through our
newspaper to prevent this emigration"
Asked If he had ever had any expert
ence in the newspaper business, Mr.. de
Valera. with broad grin, offered this
bit Of Irish wit:
"No, I never have worked on any
newspapers, but the newspapers have
worked on me-"
Explaining that before he left ireland
only $35O,000 remained to be raised to
finance his newspaper. Mr.. de Valera
declared the harm "that Is being done
our country through the lack Of an
independent, constructive and critical
national journal Is incalculable."
British Papers Gain.
1.-THE existing Irish daily papers," he
added. "are the property of few fam
lilies whose outlook Is very different from
that of the majority of our people. The
people buy these papers solely because
they must II they are to get news. They
make no national appeal whatever. The
result Is that the circulation in Ireland
of British newspapers such as the Daily
Mail, the Daily Express and the Daily
Chronicle has been rapidly increasing.
THE views Of life, the whole philos-
ophy behind these papers Is entirely
alien. Every one who is interested in
preserving our national individuality is
alarmed at the prospect of a further in
crease in their circulation, and 1t Is
realized that the only effective remedy
Is to provide an acknowledgements an
Irish paper which the Irish people will
spontaneously support because 1t stands
for Ireland and Irish interests and Is
representative OF their own thought
and ideals.
"Our central purpose, the only rea-
son in fact why am engaged in this
enterprise, Is to provide the Irish
people with paper which will give them
the truth in news without attempting to
color 1t for party purposes. The
problems OF political, social and econo-
mic reconstruction which face us in
Ireland today require the leadership Of
a great daily newspaper. It is our pur-
pose to supply that leadership"
Irish problems will be discussed by
Mr.. de Valera in an address tonight at
8 o clock at the Carlton Hotel. He will
talk under the auspices of the American
Association for the Recognition Of the
Irish Republic.
Mr.. de Valera will be introduced by
Charles Edward Russell, prominent
writer and traveller, who will be the
chairman Of the meeting.