England Will Respect Eire’s Neutrality

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 61, 15 March 1944, Page 5

England Will Respect Eire’s Neutrality

Received Tuesday, 10.55 p.m. LONDON, March 14. “England will respect Irish neutrality and allow Eire to choose to follow her own course in the war,” saia Lord Halifax (British Ambassador), speaking in Boston, U.S.A. “This is the most convincing proof of the British Dominion’s complete independence. England has never exerted any influence on the de Valera Government to alter Eire’s neutrality and the Unitea States Government has made its position clear. Mr. de Valera did like v/ise. “The overall picture of the war is satisfactory but the hardest hills have yet to be climbed,” said Lord Halifax, who discounted the idea that a 4 4 peace now” movement will gain headway in England. “Such an idea does not hola well with Britishers when they think German soldiers are drilling only 22 miles from Dover.” ‘‘Canada told Eire of its full sympathy with the American request for closing the Axis legations in Dublin,” said Mr. Mackenzie King in the Canadian Commons. “The information was conveyed in informal discussions between the Canadian High Commissioner in Eire (Mr. J. K. Kearney) and the Irish High Commissioner in Ottawa (Mr. J. J. Hearne).” Mr. Mackenzie King added: “Mr. de Valera had suggested that it would serve the mutual interests of Eire and the United States if the United States Note could be withdrawn. My reply made it clear that the Canadian Government was fully sympathetic with the United States and did not wish to intervene in the matter. I believe tho informal discussions were of some help in steadying a difficult situation.” A low-flying German aeroplane was seen over Dalkey on Sunday afternoon, says the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent from an Irish port. The plane headed towards the sea about three miles from Monkstown where the German Consul lives.