July 10
With the zero hour of the German onslaught upon the British Isles rapidly approaching the question of the status of the Irish Free State is becoming of increasing importance. As a result of the usual type of insinuation in the German press, to the effect that Irish neutrality was not being strictly observed, lund that the present situation in Ireland was comparable with that in the Low Countries fon the eve of the German invasion in May, the Government leaders of Ulster and Eire have been in consultation. The greatest secrecy has been maintained regarding these negotiations which are so closely linked with the question of British national defence, but it ig said that without a doubt a scheme would be devised which would save Eire's neutrality on the one hand, and at the same time prevent that country being used by the Germans as a jumping-off place for attacks on England, Wales and Scotland from the west. While very considerable attention has been paid to the defence of the British Isles along south and cast coast, the possibility of the Germans seeking to strike from the north fof west has not been lost sight of, and it is fan ingontestible fact that, were the Germans able to secure any very rear foothold in Ireland, the possibility of subjecting Great Britain' to a close blockade would become very great. Germany in control of Ireland Would command the sea routes to the western pons of the United Kingdom, and the chances, that Herr Hitler contemplates some sucht stroke are not in the circumstances to be light disregarded, "Thus a preliminary attempt would doubtless be made to land substantial forces in Eire by means of aeroplanes, and parachutes, for it is quite unlikely that the enemy would seek to despatch troops by. sea in view of the fact that the British Navy would be In a position adequately to dear with any convoys which might be despatched for that purpose. The attempt to do so by it would be risky enough, for not only woutet Tavge bodies of men be required, but a con~ tinual stream of aeroplanes necessary maintain them once the troops had been Mr. de Valera, Prime Minister of Eire, is socking to lake every advantage of the situa tion in an endeavour to accomplish his con lently held ambition to bring about a fusion of the two parts of Ireland. The attitude of Ulster is one of loyalty to the Empire. Tt is just as much a combatant as the rest of the United Kingdom, and it has already been pointed out that to agree to fusion at the present moment would be to abandon Great Britain and adopt the same precarious neutrality as that of Eire, which depends not so much for its preservation upon what Mr. de Valera would like to do. us upon what Herr Hitler decides. Mr. de Valera in an. interview with an American Journalist claims that in face of the present emergency, Treland should be whole and undivided, holding that determination of policy, fund defence measures was possible only on such a basis, which in turn would have to be founded upon neutrality. But in fact wi Toya dependence, and become mer= he is asking is that Ulster should abandon its
Hed by There ar requirements now as compared with wh they were before, allowing the North to retain its Parliament and "Tocal_ government machinery, but that Northern Irckind should be subje ili Treland, in which, of ce Ain will not be to support it i from the union upon which Mx, de Valer:
kee have declared that his country would no matter whether Germany was seeking wolf ground for an attack on Great seeking to avert such an Ireland first. If indeed Hire is prepared to resist a German vasion, so well and good. Once it has curred there could be no po lo objection
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.