Evening star., 1935-02-08
Economic Relations of
Ireland and England
To the Editor Of The Star:

The discussion lately appearing In
your columns concerning the present
status and future promise Of Ireland
serves again to illustrate the curious
fact that It Is still difdcult to obtain
in this country any accurate infor-
nation as to the realities Of the trans
formation that is now going or In the
Irish Free State. With no desire to
revive the recent discussion, but
merely in the interest Of the truth
concerning the most significant eco
nomic development of these times,
may we please record here a few per-
tinent statistics and facts that illus
trate the real situation?
It is often said and comLi only be-
lieved that the government of Ireland
is a partner in the Irish Sweep
stakes" and derives a great revenue
from what Is regarded in this coun-
try as form Of lottery or gambling.
The truth is that the government has
no interest in the sweepstakes, but
all such enterprises are subject to a
tax Of 6 per cent. In 1884 this tax
brought to the Free State treasury
$50 1856 pounds sterling, which amounts
to .0l 4-10 per cent Of the govern
ment's total revenue.
It is frequently asserted and gen.
orally believed that the Irish farmers
have been greatly injured because the
trade quarrel between Ireland and
England Cancelled the English de-
mand for Irish cattle, which thereby
I%a oloh nf q
the British boycott of Irish products,
including cattle, has been the best
thing that ever happened to Irish
agriculture. Instead of having cat
tie in the market as unstable COM
modify, the price of beef in Ireland
in 1884 was 81 per cent higher than
in 1888, mutton was is per cent
and bacon IA per cent higher; the
price of heifers in calf increased Is
per cent. But the greatest benefit
that has resulted to Ireland from the
English boycott is the great stimulus
that followed to the diversifying of
Irish agriculture. In 1884, as COM
pared to 1888, the wheat acreage in
creased 86 PEI cent, sugar beet acreage
increased 202 per cent; barley acreage,
% per cent; mangel acreage, per
cent.
The economic weakness of Ireland
previous to the trade war, and always
while Ireland was under English
domination, lay in the fact that pro-
duction was too narrowly limited in
range. The persistent efforts of the
present government of bringing about
a far healthier economic condition
are demonstrated by these figures.
1t is frequently asserted and COM
monty believed that England boy
cotted Irish products because Ireland
refused to pay debt. The fact is
easily demonstrable that Ireland
never owed the money England
claimed. and the attempt to force
Ireland to pay it was a species Of
banditry all the more disgraceful TO
the country that itself refuses to pay
debts as to which there is no queS-
ton.
That the small Irish farmers, who
make up the bulk of the agricultural
population, are aware Of the benefits
they have had from the present gov
ernment. is shown by the fact that
in the elections last year the gov
ernment swept Is of the % counties
in which elections were held, and
was strongest in the regions popu-
lated by the small farmers.
The recent trade arrangement be-
tween Ireland and England has been
much misrepresented. 1t was, in
fact, surrender by England. Since
the trade war started ireland has
been getting its coal supplies from
the European continent. There are
thousands of coal miners idle in
England and it was their growing
distress and complaints that drove
the English government into pro-
posing an arrangement by which
England is to take certain quantity
of Irish cattle and Ireland is to
get 100000 tons year of English
coal. The essence of this arrange
ment is, Of course, a great victory
for the De Valera government.
In point of fact again. the one
country of Europe that without diff
ficulty or dishonesty balances its
budget is Ireland. The one country
of the world that has attempted to
restore prosperity by applying sane
methods without a huge national
debt is Ireland, and the one country
that has made the greatest advance
toward practical recovery is Ireland
In view Of these facts, the allega-
ton, so frequently repeated in this
country, that Ireland cannot exist
without economic support from Eng
land IS perfectly preposterous. It
has already demonstrated the sound
ness of its economic independence
as it has long ago proved before the
world the perfect justice of its stead
fast demands for national freedom
and national independence
ANDREW I. HICKEY,
Publicity Committee Chairman. Kevir
Barry Council, A. A. r. I. r.