DE VALERA DEFIANT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1940, Page 6

DE VALERA DEFIANT

NO USE OF WEST COAST PORTS BY ANY BELLIGERENT SAYS PRESSURE WOULD LEAD TO BLOODSHED. NO SUBMARINES FUELLING IN EIRE. (Ey Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. Mr de Valera, in a speech in the Dail, said: “There is no question of handing over Eire’s west coast ports in any conditions so long as Eire is neutral. It is a lie to say that German or any other submarines are fuelling or provisioning at our ports. It is not only a lie, but the British Government knows it is a lie. “Any attempt to bring pressure on us by any belligerent, including Britain, would only lead to bloodshed. As long as this Government is in office, we shall defend our rights.” Mr de Valera said: “I don’t know whether members of the Dail are prepared to take Mr Churchill’s references to Eirean ports as a symbol and perhaps a natural expression of regret, as I am prepared to do, or whether the speech portended something more. Eire wants friendly relations with the people of Britain and also other peoples. I want to say to our people that we may but hope that they are not facing a grave crisis, but if we must face it we know that our cause is just and right. If we must die, we shall be dying in a good cause. Thus far it has been denifitely understood that we are free to use our territory unhindered. There has not been, since the outbreak of war, a single suggestion that we are not entitled to act as we have been acting and to remain outside the war.” . He added that all outstanding AngloEirean differences had been cleared up except that of partition. He was anxious that Eire should remain neutral. Anybody realising what modern war meant would understand what it meant for a country insufficiently defended from air attacks.

In his speech in the House of Commons on November 5, Mr Winston Churchill said: “The fact that we cannot use the southern and western coast of Ireland to refuel our flotillas and thus protect the trade by which Ireland as well as Great Britain lives is a most heavy and grievous blow, and one which should never have been placed on our shoulders, broad enough though they be.” Speakers who took part in the debate initiated by Mr Churchill urged that Eire should be approached with a view to Britain using bases there for the purpose of attacking U-boats. No one appears to have suggested that enemy U-boats were being refuelled in Eire.

A Labour member, Mr H. B. LeesSmith, said that if Britain had the use of Berehaven and Lough Swilly in Ireland, the whole position would be transformed in a night. The world should understand that because of her principles Britain was losing ships and sailors, and but for the British Navy Ireland would be where Holland and Belgium were today. Ireland, he said, paid a great deal of attention to public opinion in the United States, and he suggested that the attention of the United States should bo called to the price Britain was paying for her principles. Other members, Liberals and Conservatives, also urged an approach to Ireland for the use of bases there for British ships.