The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1941. GAP IN BRITISH DEFENCES

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21369, 13 March 1941, Page 6

The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1941. GAP IN BRITISH DEFENCES

An attempt to fill one of the most dangerous gaps in Britain's defences is apparently to be made by the United States which, it is reported, will agree to a loan of £10,000,000 to Eire providing Eire coastal bases are made available to Britain. Mr Frank Aiken, Eire Minister for the co-operation of Defence, is visiting the United States to obtain ships and money, and it is said that the first condition to a loan the United States will make is that Britain shall be allowed the use of bases on the Eire coast. Such a concession is so obviously of advantage to both Eire and Britain, and to the United States, that it is amazing a satisfactory arrangement has not already been made. It is now evident that hundreds of thousands of Irishmen outside of Eire are losing patience with Mr de Valera’s policy. American Irishmen have asked Mr de Valera to permit the use of the bases in the western ports of Eire to “ maintain the lifeline of civilisation.” They say that “ only if Britain survives can Eire be free. We ask you to do this for the sake of Irish freedom, which our ancestors fought to win.” That is the attitude of Irishmen spread through the world. They can from their more advantageous position see the danger of their homeland becoming merely a vassal of Germany, and that means a great deal to them. Mr de Valera, and with the support of most of his people at home, is clinging pathetically to the hope of continued neutrality—a hope that has been proven vain in smaller countries throughout Europe. With the flow of assistance from the United States now beginning in earnest the Irish problem has assumed greater importance than ever. Eire stands in the fairway by which that assistance must reach Britain. One of Germany’s chief aims will be to destroy the ships that bring American arms, and their menace will be greatest when the convoys are nearing Britain. Those western Irish bases are therefore vital to Britain. Germany will not hesitate to use the territorial waters of Eire for the more effective operation of her submarines, and in the meantime Britain is deprived of the advantage of bases where they are needed most. Many British ships have already been lost off the coasts of Eire. That loss would probably not have been as great had the western bases been in use. At least German operations in Eire waters would be rendered much more hazardous were the gap in the defences filled.

Then there is, of course, the danger that Germany may decide to attempt to attack Britain through Eire. If Hitler sees a chance of success in that direction, what will Eire’s neutrality mean to him ? Similar circumstances have not deterred him anywhere else. Irishmen can expect no better treatment than Hitler has given Holland, Belgium and Denmark. They stood between him and Britain and stoutly declared their neutrality. But Hitler wanted their territory to facilitate the invasion of Britain. That is exactly the position with regard to Eire. Mr de Valera says Eire will fight if invaded; so did Belgium. Eire is clinging to neutrality to the last minute and refusing British collaboration; so did Belgium.