Eamon de Valera, President of the Irish Free State, who addressed the Irish parliament today on the proposed bill to outlaw the Blue Shirt Fascist organization, denied allegations made for years by his political opponents that he was of Jewish origin.
“There is not a drop of Jewish blood in my veins,” de Valera declared. “I am descended from Catholic stock on both sides. I apologize for bringing in personal matters. Be decent. Stop this vile propaganda. I do not mean this as an attack on the Jews, but only to state the facts. I am not of those who wish to attack the Jews,” the Irish President concluded.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.