BRITAIN AND IRELAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22958, 13 August 1936, Page 12

BRITAIN AND IRELAND

ECONOMIC WARFARE At a time like the present, when the international sky is dark and nations with common interests in face of foreign dangers cannot afford to quarrel pettily among themselves, can any one view with indifference the protraction of the quarrel between Great Britain and the Irish Free Slate? asks the Sunday Times Though waged with economic weapons only, it is a source of weakness to both parties. It divides them when they ought to be drawing together. Neither has much positive gain to show for the loss that it inflicts on the other side If two large business concerns had drifted into such a manifestly barren conflict, they would have ended it before now. one of them could not end it without losses, it would have cut the losses. Let us grant that parallels between business and politics cannot always rightly be drawn, A State is concerned with justice, and may wish to vindicate a principle, even though it has little expectation of gaining in pocket. In tins case that attitude has unquestionably been a hindrance to any acceptable settlement. But ought it to be maintained indefinitely in circumstances like the present? Mr de Valera’s references to British foreign policy at Geneva were sympathetic and comprehending. He gave Mr Eden the credit that he deserves. He has plainly come to see Anglo-Irish problems more than formerly in a world-perspective, and the tone in which he spoke was that of willingness to meet common risks in a spirit of co-ooeration. We should like to see that spirit developed, and carried to a point at which the present rather futile controversy between Dublin and London was brought to an end. It is quite time that bases were laid for a more practical and harmonious relationship.