EIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27212, 15 October 1949, Page 8

EIRE

Sir— Despite all the Union issues debated. such as religion, the question of Ulster’s continued loyalty to the British Commonwealth still remains. Aie the people of Ulster entitled to remain within the Commonwealth if they so desire. That they do so desire is amply proved by their overwhelming vote to this effect at the recent elections. In her struggle for self-government throughout the ages Ireland, to my mind, was entirely justified, but history will show that a large number of new leadeis such as the Protestant Stewart Parnell and the Catholic Daniel O'Connell, were nevertheless always loyal to the British Crown—their fight for home rule though at times very bitter was a family one as between the British People. Only when Ireland’s destiny moved into the hands of an extreme Sinn Fein movement was there talk of Ireland leaving an Empire which she, in common with the rest of the British Isles, helped to build. I have a great affection for those irishmen, and there are many, who have refused to take this extremist attitude and have joined the British ranks. I am sure none of these people, whether Catholic or Protestant, would have condoned Eire's neutrality in a war fought for the' freedom of the world or, for example, Mr De Valera’s telegram of sympathy to the German Embassy on the death of Herr Hitler and similar actions made under the cloak of neutrality but in reality done for the sole purpose of embarrassing England. . . . Therefore, I conclude Ulster s right to remain British will be protected, and I hope Britain who. in this more enlightened age, has done much to undo the wrongs done to Ireland, will continue to accept the loyalty of those Irishmen everywhere who are still proud to belong to our Commonwealth of freedom-lovmg peoples.— l am, etc., „ .. British and Proud of It.