CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 216, 11 September 1940, Page 6

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

EIRE'S NEUTRALITY. (To the Editor.)' i , G. W. Blair's claim to Britain's no. -3 tection of Ireland reminds me of th« J? similar protection China is now receiving at the hands of Japan. Has he forgotten "Bloody" Cromwell and his men? From whom, exactly, are the British protecting Ireland? True a few bombs were jettisoned from a German 'plane in difficulties recently, bnt the fact that a like occurrence in another neutral country during this war is overlooked seems to connote hostility to Eire. Irishmen have proved themselves better friends to the-Empire than any of the Dominions, and in the Great War they, too, rendered service for the freedom of small nationalities yet, afterwards, an invasion of blade and ' tans, an efficient substitute for either the Gestapo or Ogpu, was suffered once more. No country in the world has a better claim to nationality than our (VHjf brothers, however! Britain is more coa- , eerned with the freedom of the Czechs, Poles, Finns, Dutch, Danes and Norwegians. The hope of making British subjects of Irishmen has failed, surely it is time broad-minded people realised tliat justice alone can gain the support of Mr. De Valera. The mills of Cod grind slowly and, unhappily, British people to-dav an enduring something of the terror inflicted on the Irish people. Contrary to popular opinion, Irishmen love not fighting but courage, and for that very reason De Valera, leading them, refuses to be dragged into England's quarrels with other nations. He is anxious to work in peace, harmony and co-operation with Britain for their mutual benefit and, of course, resents the mutilation of Ireland whicli compels Irish nationalists to live under British Government, administered • by a Parliament (?) established in Belfast for only six of the 32 counties of Ireland, on their own native soiL J. D. DOHERTY (Northmen).