EIRE NAVAL BASES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 24, 8 November 1940, Page 5

EIRE NAVAL BASES

NOT TO BE HANDED OVER. DECLARATION OF DE VALERA. &ÜBMARIXES NOT USING PORTS. United Press Association. —Copyright.'* (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. The ‘‘Daily Telegraph” says it is understood that the Government is giving careful attention to the question of temporarily leasing the principal air and naval bases in Eire. The question is very delicate because of Eire’s determination to do nothing likely to jeopardise her policy of strict neutrality. Mr de Valera’s speech in the Eireann Dail said there was no question of handing over Eire’s west coast ports on any conditions as long as they were neutral.

“It is a lie to say that German or any other submarines were fuelling and provisioning at our ports,”, said Mr de Valera. “It is not only a lie but the British Government knows it is a. lie. Any attempt to bring pressure on us by any belligerent, including Britain, will only lead to bloodshed. As long as this Government is in office wo will defend our rights.”

Mr Do Valera said: “I do not know whether members of the Dail are prepared to take Mr Churchill's references to Eirean ponds as a symbol of a perhaps natural expression of regret, as I am prepared to do or whether the speech porthnded something more. Eire wants friendly relations with the people -tef Britain, also with other peoples. I want to say to our people that we may hopei they are not facing a grave crisis, but jf they must face it we know our cause is just and right. If we must die we shall be dying in a good cause. Thus far it has been definitely understood that we are free to use icnr territory unhindered. There has not "been since, the cutbreak of war a. single suggestion that we are not entitled to act as we have been acting and remain outside the war ” -

The Bnesident iaddod that all the ou*standing differences had be* n cleared up except the question, of partition He was anxious that Eire remain neutral Anybody who realised what modern war meant would understand what it meant for a, country insufficiently defended from air attacks.