DE VALERA’S CAMPAIGN FOR UNIFICATION OF IRELAND

Grey River Argus, 29 October 1948, Page 6

DE VALERA’S CAMPAIGN FOR UNIFICATION OF IRELAND

Replies To Welsh Questioners

LONDON, October 27. Mr De Valera, the former Prime Minister of Eire, addressed the Cardiff Business Club. He replied to a number of hostile questions. One questioner asked: “Why did you not allow British submarines to use Irish ports during the war, and why, on the death of that inhuman monster, Hitler, did you call at the German Legation with condolences? Mr. De Valera replied: “We maintained our neutrality. It was a friendly neutrality. We could not, as a neutral' State, allow your submarines to use- our ports. We w?re not, m fact, asked to do so.” In reply to a chorus , of, “But you allowed the Germans in,” Mr. De Valera said: “That is a falsehood. The German Embassy was there before the war.”

The questioner reiterated his query about the visit to the German Legation. Mr. De Valera said: “I went as Minister of External Affairs. I went in the same way as I would go to any such representative on our soil.” An interjector cried “Traitor !” Mr. De Valera answered: “My reply is the same as that given by Wallace: ‘I never gave allegiance to the King so I could never be a traitor.’ ” He was asked whether he would support the use of armed force to end partition in Ireland. Mr. De Valera said: “The Irish people would behave as any other people would do. We want a peaceful solution. But just as in the past, we struggled for our freedom, in the course of time you may be sure there will be people in Ireland who will feel that they are entitled to fight for the unity and integrity of their territory. It is a question of the will of the majority of the people of the country.” He was asked whether, in the event of partition being ended, Ireland would accept Dominion status, including allegiance to the King. Mr. De Valera answered: "No. I for one would not, because I have not given allegiance to the British King. The British Crown has been a symbol, through all the centuries of aggression against our country.” There were shouts of “No.”