IRELAND IN THE POST-WAR WORLD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 234, 4 October 1943, Page 4

IRELAND IN THE POST-WAR WORLD

jy*Jl{. DE VALERA is right in upholding the legality of Ireland remaining, a neutral during the present struggle for freedom; but it is to be remembered that in a world conflict Ireland had everything to lose as a result of an Allied defeat and she. did very little to help—if anything at. all—in bringing about, an Allied victory. The result which is being achieved without the aid of Ireland is something which those who have contributed have a right to claim as their own. In the post-war world the countries that nave contributed to the victory cannot be expected to be overconcerned with the welfare of those countries that have made no contribution. Ireland has had the benefits of neutrality made possible by the circumstances under which the Allies found themselves. Had Ireland been in the same geographical position as Denmark then Ireland would have enjoyed no neutrality, but would have experienced all the stimulating benefits of Nazi occupation. The Allies must look to themselves first and then to those countries that have been devastated by the operations of war. It would be inappropriate to endeavour to penalise Ireland in any way for the. line of conduct which she has chosen for herself, but that does not mean that she is entitled to equal treatment with such countries as Denmark, a country that was neutral but which fell a victim to Nazi oppression and whose people have since done all that they could do to win back again the freedom that neutrality lost for then!.