SWEEPING ACTION TAKEN BY BRITAIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 61, 13 March 1944, Page 3

SWEEPING ACTION TAKEN BY BRITAIN

EIRE ISOLATED

All Travel Stopped For Military Reasons N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 12. The Government has decided, subject to certain exceptions, that all travel between Britain, Northern Ireland and Eire must be suspended forthwith for military reasons. From March 13 until further notice no more permits or visas for travel between the two islands will be granted except for business or work of urgent national importance, or on compassionate grounds of a most urgent and compelling character. No further leave certificates for Irish workers to return to Ireland from Britain will be granted while the restrictions continue. The restrictions will be removed as soon as military considerations permit. The United Press correspondent says the United Nations refuse to let the matter of closing the Axis Embassies in Eire, drop and are pressing vigorously for arrangements for safeguarding military secrets from the enemy. It is reported that the American Note caused extreme tension in Eire and that the Irish Army was ordered to stand by for action along the Ulster border from February 25 to 28. Safe From Invasion The Associated Press says Mr. Robert Brennan, Eire Minister in Washington, asked the State Department Avhether the Allies intended a military stroke. He was told that Eire was safe from British and American invasion.

The American Note stated that it had become apparent, in spite of the declared desire of the Ivish Government that its neutrality should not favour the belligerents, that, in fact, it had operated and continued to operate in favour of the Axis Powers and against the United Nations, on whom Eire's security and maintenance of her national economy depended. The Note declared flatly that it had been demonstrated over and over again that Axis representatives in neutral countries used their special privileges and immunities as a cloak for espionage activities against the United Nations. The State Department disclosed that President Roosevelt sent a message of friendly warning to Mr. de Valera two years ago that the Irish Government should take steps not to stand alone when the time comes for the peace table conference. Mr. Roosevelt's primary purpose was to assure Mr. de Valera that Amei ican troops in the British Isles did not constitute a threat to Ireland, but rather a protection. Mr. Roosevelt added that there was not the slightest intention of invvhng Irish territory or threatening Irish security.