FIRST STEP TO ISOLATE FIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 5

FIRST STEP TO ISOLATE FIRE

POLICY OF ALLIES

During 1 Critical Period Now Approaching: N.Z.P.A. and British "Wireless Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Mar. 14. Addressing the House of Commons 011 the Eirean situation, Mr. Churchill said: "We for some time past have taken a number of measures to minimise the dangers arising from the substantial- disservice to the Allied cause involved in the retention by the de Valera Government of the German Minister and the Japanese Consul with their staffs in Dublin. The time has come when these measures must be strengthened and the restrictions on travel to Ireland, already announced, are the first step in a policy designed to isolate Britain from Southern Ireland, also to isolate Southern Ireland from the outer world during the critical period now approaching. "I need hardly say how painful it is for us to take these measures in view of the large number of Irishmen lighting so bravely with the Allies. No one can reproach us with precipitancy. No nation in the world would have been so patient, but there is the future to consider. "If catastrophe were to occur to the Allied armies which could be traced to the retention of German and Japanese representatives in Dublin, a gulf would be opened between Britain and Southern Ireland which even generations would not bridge.

Question of Sanctions The question of imposing sanctions on Eire will be raised at the next meeting of the British House of Commons. The member for Belfast University, Professor D. L. Savory, is to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of Eire's refusal to dismiss the German Minister and the Japanese Consul in Dublin, the British Government proposes continuing to supply Eire with coal, petrol, tin and other commodities at the risk of British seamen's lives. In Northern Ireland there is widespread speculation whether the British Government's ban on traffic between the two islands might lead to the closing of the border between Eire and Northern Ireland. .

The Prime Minister was asked whether the decision was taken after prior consultation with other Dominions, and he replied that complete unity of thought prevailed throughout the British Commonwealth.

In reply to another question whether the retention of Axis representatives was consistent with membership of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Mr. Churchill

said: "The whole question of the position of Southern Ireland is anomalous from various points of view, and I can conceive that high legal authorities might have very great difficulty in defining the exact relationship which prevails."