EIREANN BASES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 25, 9 November 1940, Page 5

EIREANN BASES.

d© VALERA’S DECLARATION.

NORTH OF IRELAND VIEWPOINT

LONDON, November 7.

Eire had undertaken that its ports should not be used in an attack on Britain, and this: policy had been, and would he carried out to the full. Eire wished for friendly relations with Britain, said Mr do Valera, announcing in the Dail Eireann that there was no question' of handing over Eire’s west coast ports to Britain on any conditions so long as Eire remained neutral. All parties applauded the declaration that there was no question of leasing ports. Mr J. M. Dillon, Deputy-Leader of tho Opposition, said that as far as he was aware no demands had been made on Eire, no threats had been made, and no violence was forecast. In the circumstances were the. terms of Mr de Valera’s statement best calculated to promote calm preparedness among the Irish people? It seemed odd to hear mention of the possibility of bloodshed, even as a remote contingency between two neighbours who had been at peace for centuries. He was certain that any difficulties could he surmounted by consultation. He did not believe that Britain calculated or designed demand or action prejudicial to the Sovereignty of Eire.

Comment on Mr de Valera’s statement was also made by the Prime ister of Northern Ireland (Lord Craigavon). He said: “Hpwever deeply the attitude of Eire may ho deplored, the student of the successive stages of Eire’s policy cannot be the least surprised. It was always evident that Eire, while accepting concession after concession from Britain, intended to give nothing in return. “Eire clings to neutrality in the midst of a war in which the Empire is fighting for existence, and simultaneously she is creating difficulties for the Power to which she owes her immunity from attack from Germany.

“Mr de Valera’s announcement marks the culmination of a process wo in Ulster have foreseen for 40 years.” The “Daily Telegraph” says that now that the United States Government is stabilised, hopes are being freely expressed in somo quarters that Air Roosevelt will he able to use his influence to effect an arrangement by which the Royal Navy may use Eireann harbours. At present there is no indication of measures to redress the situation in which neutral Eire is hampering the operations of tho Coastal Command in a largo and important area of the Atlantic, hut it is clear that the recent sinkings in the Atlantic make it imperative that now steps ho taken at the earliest opportunity.