MIXED FEELINGS IN WELLINGTON OVER VISIT OF MR. DE VALERA

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1948, Page 5

MIXED FEELINGS IN WELLINGTON OVER VISIT OF MR. DE VALERA

(0.C.) Wellington, May 24. Mr. Eamon de Valera, former president of Eire, accompanied by Mr. F. D. Aiken, former Eire Minister of Finance, are expected to .vrlve at Paraparaumu by air Irom Auckland tomorrow shortly after noon. Mr. do Valera is to be given a reception tomorrow night and on Wednesday afternoon he and Mr. Aiken are to be given a Government reception at Parliament House. It would be no exaggeration to say that feelings are considerably mixed on the question of the purpose of Mr de Valera's visit to New Zealand, and particularly on the “Government reception" to a person—statesman though he be —who, during the war years, was certainly no friend to Britain. That there is some resentment in the community at the decision to give a Government reception to Mr. de Valera was first brought to the public notice last week when an official statement by a certain lodge made it obvious that any sort of a reception to Mr. de Valera would be extremely distasteful to their supporters.

Public opinion has been, perhaps, a little slow in responding to the obvious challenge thrown down by the lodge, but with the week-end to formulate their opinions, several correspondents have written to an evening newspaper and all of them show annoyance, if not undisguised animosity, at the Government receiving as a guest, Mr. de Valera, who, they take pains to point out, was at the head of a state which refused help to Britain and the Empire during its fight against Hitler. One correspondent writes of the • Government "wasting the taxpayers’ money on this so-called mission of goodwill.” Others, obviously exI servicemen, reflect that many of Eire's citizens fought alongside I Britons in World War II but oddly none has pointed out that these volunteers were discriminated against when it became know to Mr. de Valera's Government that, true to the Irish character, they were “in the fight.” The "Chronicle” sought clarification of the purpose of the reception from authoritative circles in Parliament House today and was told that, as a matter of courtesy, the Government intended to “receive” prominent overseas statesman. VIEWS OF A PADRE. A Roman Catholic padre who served with the 2nd. N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East, Italy and in the Pacific zones, said to the "Chronicle" that he dismissed "any suggestion that there was an ulterior motive behind Mr. de Valera's visit to America, Australia and New Zealand.” Mr de Valera, said the padre, had always fought for a United Ireland and always would fight to achieve that object. "He has made his mistakes in the past the same as many other statesmen," continued the padre, "and he tvas not entirely guiltless in the civil war, but to suggest that he is on a visff to secure New Zealand support for the campaign to unite Ireland is absurd."

As yet there is no official reaction by the N.Z.R.S.A. to Mr. de Valera’s visit. Officials have received their invitations to attend the reception on Wednesday and it is not likely any will refuse. Nevertheless, it is possible that certain sub-committees at the N.Z.R.S.A. which are to meet tomorrow night will discuss Mr. de Valera's visit and the upsnot of the discussion might be given public circulation in a statement to the Press after meetings. "There is nothing official I can say as coming from the N.Z.R.5.A.,” said the president. Mr. C. O. Bell, to the "Chronicle" tonight. "The question of Mr. de Valera's visit and reception to him by the Government has not yet been brought forward to the N.Z.R.S.A. by any branch of the association.”