IRISH NEUTRALITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 November 1940, Page 6

IRISH NEUTRALITY

A WOMAN’S PLEA OPENING PORTS TO BRITAIN In an attempt to soften the heart of Mr de Valera, an Irishwoman with relatives in Nelson has written the following letter to the Prime Minister of Eire:— “As an Irishwoman I am making thit written appeal to you to give your gracious consent to the opening, in Eire, of Ports and Stations for use by the British Navy and Air Force. In making it lam not only voicing the sincere wish that is in my own heart, but also the wish of every loyal Irishman and woman in every part of the civilised world. I, like every other Irish person, fear, that unless Britain can get the use of your ports, that our beloved Ireland will soon be submerged under the tyranny of Germany. We all fear that the liberties for which our ancestors have always passionately fought—the liberties for which all true Irishmen in every part of the Empire are still ready to fight for again—will soon be lost to us forever. LIVED NEAR LOUGH SWILLY “During the 1914-18 War I lived in a small town on the shores of Lough Swilly. In those dark days it was really tragic to see the numbers of ships—crews and dead brought ashore —and more tragic still to witness the sorrow of their loved ones. This was caused by the German Submarine and j Mine-laying warfare. According to the , news regarding the thousands of tons I of shipping sunk and the hundreds of splendid men drowned off the Irish coast, and the terrible sorrow and suffering it is causing in this war, those dark days of 1914-1918 fade into something very insignificant Throughout the ages, our dear Ireland has always been known as ‘tha Island of Saints and Scholars.’ She has given to the world great heroes and great statesmen, of whom we have all very justly been proud. Dear Mr de Valera, surely you can emulate j those great men. You have it in your power to give the help that is necessary to deliver the whole world from a cruel and ruthless enemy. No true Irishman ever helped tyrants. We have always fought for freedom—let us still fight on, for freedom! IRISH TRADITIONS “How can there be Neutrality for Ireland? The united opinion of all Irish people is that unless Ireland comes under the protection of Britain she will be smashed and trampled under the boot of Hitler. You can’t calmly see all our great traditions and memories of our past victories crushed underfoot by this heartless dictator? Don’t let us Irish ‘lose face’ with the other peoples of the world. Don’t make us blush when we have to admit our Irish birth.—Help us to keep the pride in our dear country, which we have always had. In the eyes of Almighty God you have a right to oppose the onward rush of the dictators who began this war. In the name of justice and humanity, I, and all Irish people in the Empire, beg you to look into your conscience and ask yourself this—what answer or excuse can I give to God on Judgment Day for all the lives lost and all the suffering and misery I am causing? If you are the good religious man we read about, you will see the only true way to the Salvation of Ireland is to help England. I pray with all my heart that the good and all-forgiving God will show you the road to Liberty.”