Irishmen Marooned In Britain

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1944, Page 3

Irishmen Marooned In Britain

(Received 3 p.m.) (8.0. W.) RUGBY, March 13.

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 is to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of Eire’s refusal to dismiss the German Minister and Japanese Consul in Dublin, the British Government proposes continuing supplying Eire with coal, petrol, tin and other commodities at the risk of Eritish seamen’s lives. In Northern Ireland there is widespread speculation as- to whether the British Government’s ban on traffic between the two islands might lead to closing of the border between Eire tad Northern Ireland. The Home Office, announcing restrictions on travel between Eire and Great Britain, expresses confidence that the public will understand that the military considerations which require their imposition are at present of paramount importance and will accept them and the hardships necessarily entailed with good will as part of their contribution to the supreme effort of the war that is to come. The restrictions will be removed as soon as military considerations permit, and persons compelled to postpone their visits home will be given an opportunity of making the journey as soon as may be expedient after the restrictions are lifted. Similar restrictions on the leave of service personnel ore being imposed. The ban is conclusive proof of the closest co-ordination of policy in London and Washington. The Press draws comparisons with Spain and Argentina. where the United Nations took steps to bring home to the Governments concerned dangers inherent in the presence on neutral soil of espionage networks disguised as diplomats or commercial missions.

It is anticipated in Belfast that retrictions on travel between Ireland and Britain will be followed by tho closing of the Eire-Northern Ireland border says the Belfast correspondent of the Press Association. Leaving the border open would lessen the effectiveness of restrictions. Travellers crossing the border at present are not subject to the stringent requirements governing travel to and from Britain.

The Irish mail train, which is usually crowded on Monday mornings, left Euston station today two-thirds empty.

The Eire Government faces a crisis, but reports from Dublin indicate that the people of Eire still support De Valera’s neutrality policy. The Press Association, discussing the travel ban to Ireland, recalls that Mr Savory, M.P., last November said it was estimated that there were 100,000 to 30,000 Eire nationals in Britain. Another estimate is between 30,000 and 40.000 workers from South Ireland, and 30,000 from North Ireland. At present in Britain about 4000 persons travel to and from Ireland daily. The Press Association’s diplomatic writer says while transit remained open it was always possible for information to be conveyed from Britain to Eire for transmission to Berlin and Tokio. The new restrictions will assist in stopping one channel through which Axis agents could receive information. The channel whereby information passed to the Axis —the German Legation in Dublin—remains open. The possibility has always existed that some of the thousands of Irishmen, possibly including members of the I.R.A. who migrated to Britain to share high wartime wages, conveyed information to enemy agents in Eire, Not only will no more Irishmen now be permitted to enter Britain, but, more important, none will be permitted to return to Ireland. New Policy Initiated The Eire Minister in Washington (Mr Robert Brennan) expressed the opinion that the United States will not use military or economic pressure to induce Eire to abandon neutrality. He added that the State Department had- been most friendly, despite Eire’s rejection of the American request. Associated Press says the announcement yesterday of the United States’ refusal to sell merchantmen is interpreted as a strong indication that a stiller economic policy towards Eire already is in operation.

Mr Brennan told an interviewer that the Irish are anxious to preserve neutrality as an outward sign of the country’s independence. Eire would like a place at the peace table “since partition is a very sore spot with us.” However, the subject was not advanced officially.

Completely Isolated

Banning travel between Ireland and Britain is only one of the steps with which the Allied commanders plan to prevent a leakage of second front information, says the “Daily Mail’s” diplomatic correspondent. They are taking and will take in future, other and .more secret measures to ensure lhe highest degree of military security.

The correspondent adds he understands that General Eisenhower possessed information which caused him to believe that Axis freedom throughout Eire was a real menace to the Allied cause and urged the necessity of immediate action.

Eire will be completely isolated as far as this can be achieved. Such a policy must have repercussions on Government relations in London, Washington and Dublin. Mr Churchill is expected to make a full statement at the next sitting of the House of Commons.

The “Daily Herald’s” diplomatic correspondent says there is no question of anything in the nature of economic sanctions. The Dublin Government’s right to decide its own policy is unchallenged. Any attempt to coerce a Dominion because its decisions are disliked by the United Kingdom would be deeply i-esented throughout the British Commonwealth. Any stoppage of trade with Eire would also be disadvantageous to Britain. Australia’s Backing Intervention of the Australian Government to have the American request for expulsion of Axis diplomatic and consular representatives from Eire withdrawn, had been sought by the Government of Eire and had been refused, the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) has revealed. The Australian Government, which was approached through its high commissioner in London (Mr. Stanley Bruce), in declining to intervene, had intimated it was in accord with the American request for the removal of German and Japanese representatives from Eire.