INVASION THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1940, Page 5

INVASION THREAT

IRELAND AS A FACTOR IN DEFENCE DANGER SEEN BY BRITISH COMMENTATOR. FAILURE TO ACHIEVE UNITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 7. Discussing the possibility of an invasion of England, Mr Vernor Bartlett, M.P., in a news commentary, pointed out that within the next few days tidal conditions would be quite unusually favourable on the east coast. The tide, weather, and the time of the day must all be made to fit in, he said, and since dawn was generally considered to be the best time to attack and the tide would then be favourable a great deal would depend on the weather. The one great weakness in connection with an invasion was the complication over the situation in the Irish Free State. A talk took place today, he said, between Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, and Mr Churchill and other members of the British Government. Lord Craigavon said afterward that he was wholly satisfied with the result, but not everybody, said Mr Bartlett would be able to share that view. Lord Craigavon would not budge, nor would Mr de Valera. Each claimed, and claimed with reason, to be quite exceptionally stubborn. Mr de Valera might like to see British troops on Free State territory, but he could not agree to anything unless the six northern countries were to be in one way or another brought under his control. Lord Craigavon considered that united action in common defence of Ireland was impossible while the Free State claimed to be neutral and allowed the German and Italian Ministers to remain on in Dublin and transmit information to Berlin and Rome. “Both men,” commented Mr Bartlett, “appear to be passing the buck to the British Government, and the danger to British shipping if Ireland were to be occupied by the Nazis is so great and so obvious that the British Government will have to reach a decision within a few days.”