EIRE PARADOXES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 205, 29 August 1940, Page 19

EIRE PARADOXES.

ENGLAND THE ENEMY. BRITISH ARMY THE ONLY HOPE (By VIRGINIA OOWLES.) BELFAST, July 16. The drive from Dublin to Belfast is only 80 miles, but the transition is as complete as though you were travelling between two widely divided nations. Yon leave Dublin and its bright lights to find yourself in a world of lazy, rolling fielde, and then reach Belfast with its lights blacked out and its streets resounding to the rumbling of atmouflaged trucks.

Until a few weeks ago the people of $he Irish Freer State discussed the war as though it were as remote as China. Lately they have -been somewhat jogged out of their complacency by the sudden warnings of their Government, the calls to store food, to evacuate their children to the country and to enlist in local «Jefence. Even so, when this reporter arrived in Dublin more than one person regarded me with mild surprise. "Why are journalists coming to Dublin?" they asked anxiously. "Iβ anything going to happen here?"

This extraordinary detachment in a worW that ie only too unhappily welded together by the mechanical development of this century is due in part to strict censorship of the Prese. From the very start of the war all newsreels, films, radio programmes and magazines have been carefully deleted of material which might arouse the people into taking sides, so that there has been little war news of any kind.

Politically, the Free State seems to be in the bow and arrow stage. While the civilised world is shaken to its foundations by the onslaughts from Nazi Germany, the major issues in Ireland are still the centuries-old struggles between Protectants and Catholics, Nationalists and eemiNationalists, Unionists and Partitionists. In view of the decisive and terrible challenge hanging over the whole of Europe to-day, it seems comparable to a family so busy squabbling over the arrangement of knick-knacks in the living room that they cannot seem to notice that the house is burning down. "Like to See England Nearly Beaten."

It is impossible to compare the neutrality of the de Valera Government with the neutrality of other small countries which, one by one, have fallen ■tnder the German axe. Whereas the sympathies of these small nations were with the Allies, they clung to neutrality m the forlorn hope it might prevent their countries from being turned into Sattleflelde.

This consideration, however, is not *he major concern of the Irish. The deciding factor in their policy is the' fact that ior 700 years'the political life <>i the country has been directed against (Sreat Britain, and they cannot bring themselves to renounce the traditional <»nemy even in the face of a far more langerous one. Aβ one Irishman put it, "It is almost a question of sentiment." But it was even more effectively expressed by a member of the de Valera Government, who, when I asked whether he would prefer a partitioned Ireland under England or a united Ireland under (Sermany, grinned .and said, "I think what most of us would like wonld be to see England nearly beaten." According to reports . .in Dublin, Premier Ea,mon de Valera is fully aware of the danger of attack from, Germany, but he ie not strong enough politically to ally ibis country with the age-old enemy, England. De Va|em's statement

£1 + T ek to the Am «ri<*n Press asking for the end of partition was regarded even in Dublin as elightly paradoxical, liie end of partition would mean the removal of British troops from Northern Ireland, which would leave the country completely open and vulnerable to attack. If such an offer were accepted, • 1S believed the Dublin Government would be most alarmed of all. Country's Only Hope. The Free State has only a few aeroplanes and could scarcely place more than one division against Germany. ■Ihe country's only hope, and one which is freely admitted, is that British troops can now be in Dublin in two hours! 11**? r\l cou «try districts one hears little talk of war. I asked an old farmer at Waterford what he thought of the chances of a German invasion, and he looked at me in surprise. "And sure, now, miss, you don't think they'll be coming up here?" e

Recruiting officers for the Free State defence have had a difficult time driving home the imminence of the danger to the country people. One of them told about travelling into the heart of the country, to villages forty miles from the nearest railway station. He tried to describe German parachutists dropping from the skies, tanks being landed by air, and troops spilling over the ground from 'plane troop carriers. The farmers regarded him with open mouths, then laughed and shook their heads unbelievingly.

The German Legation in Dublin, which has a staff of nearly a hundred persons, is busy trying to convince the Irish people that it is not Germany but Great Britain which has designs on Ireland. The Legation, I hear, has taken great exception to the fact that the Government has fortified the southern harbours and not the eastern ones. The Legation has also spread the propaganda that not only will Eire get back the eix eountk-s of the North when Britain is defeated, but will be rewarded with s,ix English counties as well—which, needless to say, appeals greatly to the Irish sense of humour.

Although the visitor to Ireland is greatly impressed by the beauty of the country and the charm of the people, one cannot help being overwhelmed by the irresponsibility of a people who claim to have a tradition of freedom and yet will not take up arms against the tyranny of Germany. At the moment they are exacting all the benefits of civilisation without the inconvenience of defending it. The Military Situation. It is impossible to judge the extent of "Fifth Column" activities in the Free State. The Government claims to have all but a few hundred members of the I.R.A. under control, but it is obvious that, with the influx of refugees and the anti-British sentiment in certain parts of the country, there must be many German agents.

The military situation, however, does not eeem to me to compare with Norway, which is the only possible comparison. The great disadvantage which the British had in Norway was. the lack of aircraft bases, without which it was impossible to maintain their supply and communications. In an invasion of Ireland the Germans would be faced with the same disadvantage. Although it would be possible for the Nazis to land many troops by aircraft, they would have 400. miles of sea communications over which to maintain their supplies of petrol; their bases would <be within striking distance of British 'planes and their troops would be engaged by large forces within-- a few hours of landing. Indeed, the Free State Government seems to be placing.its. faith in a British counter-attack, in spite of the fact that it is asking even now, rather paradoxically, for the end of partition. But this is not the only paradox., The largest statue in Dublin is the statue outside •the Parliament Building of Queen Victoria.—(N.A.NJL)