Evening star., 1933-08-16
Irish Stew.

Although the De Valera government
during its year and half of office has
loosed and strained to the verge Of the
breaking point the tie that formally
binds the Irish Free State to Great
Britain, the separatist program has not
gone far enough or fast enough to
stifle political unrest in the Emerald
Isle. The situation has suddenly
reached stage which cCnpels Presi-
dent de Valera to consider the early
dissolution of the Dali for the purpose
of securing wider power to fight the
elements which now threaten his gov
ernment. +,
The sudden and serious emergence
Of Fascist movement, launched and
led by Gen Dowd ODuffy, former chief
of the constabulary and organizer Of
the present Free State Army. is the
principal menace. ODuffy's National
Guard" claiming forty thousand ad
herents and an equally large number
ready to join them, was baffled in its
attempt to stage great demonstration
of Blue Shirt" power In Dublin last
Sunday the government having in
voked the drastic public safety act for
suppressive purposes. but Gen. ODuffy
now plans a series Of nationwide
church parades" next Sunday, which
will reveal the extent and strength of
the Blue Shirts" even more graphically
than the banned Dublin march would
have done. The government is con-
sidering the banning of next Sundays
demonstrations, too, but the difficulties
of splitting up the police and military
services of the country for the purpose
are acknowledged.
De Valera controls the existing Dali,
but by a more slender margin of Re-
publican deputies than he evidently
holds necessary for authority to squelch
the Fascist movement with an iron
hand Another general election, sug-
gested as possible in September, would
be held der different circumstances
than its ! >decessor, in February, 1882.
Republicans who previously declined to
become candidates for the Dali so long
as the oatn of allegiance to the British
crown was required, now find the way
open to accept nominations, the hated
oath having been abolished by the De
Valera government. II the President
is reinstated with increased Republican
parliamentary support, it will impel
him forward to new and further-reach-
ing independence measures. because the
younger Republicans are restless for
complete severance of the British link.
They are not satisfied with mere abol-
ton of the allegiance oath, the reduc-
ton of the British governor generalshlp
to insignificance and proposed consti-
tutional amendments terminating the
right of legal appeal to the London
Privy Council.
Irish Free State economics has been
thrown into grave disarray by the
tariff war with Great Britain conse-
ouent upon the Dublin government
refusal to continue payment OF the
land annuities. Both countries are
suffering. Yet the Irish are de-
termined to press to the bitter end
the struggle for liberation"
ODufy's Blue Shirts" profess to
seek no violent overthrow of the ex-
isting order, but to constitute them
selves as a new and effective opposi-
ton party which would appeal for
support mainly on economic grounds
detached from political, partisan con-
siderations. The Irish Fascists say
they aim in particular at union OF
North and South Ireland. National
unity" once established, Gen. ODuffy
saws it will be time enough to decide
whether Ireland shall go forward as
republic, kingdom or a common
wealth within the empire.
In whatever guise the Blue Shirt"
program is clothed, President de Valera
looks upon it as subversive move
ment. He is confident that if he goes
to the country on platform calling
for the National Guards" ruthless
suppression, he will not fail. But
plainly the ingredients are at hand
| for a new era of bitter strife in John
Bulls other and tempestuous island.