Evening star., 1941-02-21
THE EVENING STAR WASHINGTON c. FRIDAY FEBRUARY
British Are Reported
Seeking U. 5. Aid in
Getting Irish Bases
/" Action by Conodo in
Discussions Also Is
Said to Be Desired
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, Feb. 21.-The British
government is seeking the aid of the
United States and Canada to gain
the use of Irish ports on the ground
that a German dominated Ireland
would constitute a definite threat to
their interests in the Atlantic, a
usually reliable source said today.
This source asserted that despite
Prime Minister Eamon de Valera's
insistence on absolute neutrality for
Ireland, there we're almost CON
tinuous discussions" regarding Irish
ports which Britain says she needs
to counter German aerial and sub
marine attacks on her shipping.
1t was said there was a move
nent to get the United States and
Canada to take a lead in these dis
cuSSionS.
CUndersecretary of State Sum-
ner Welles said today no request
for this Government to take part
in discussions looking toward
British use of Irish ports for
naval bases had come to his at
tention.D
The feeling here" this source
said, "is that Ireland is a potential
enemy base in the Atlantic which is
just as much a problem from a long
range viewpoint TO the United States
and Canada as it is Immediately to
Britain"
Sentiment in u. s.
1t was reported that at the In
stance of Britain Mr.. De Valera
already had been given an unofi
cial American intimation that there
is considerable sentiment in the
United States that If the British
need Irish bases they should have
them. To this was added a reputec
American view that Ireland's neu.
trality actually leaned backward IL
favor of Germany.
Wendell L. Willkie was said Il
have given some hints of American
opinion during his conversation,
with Mr.. De Valera in Dublin Feb.
ruary and some sources expressed
the hope that the United States
might return Mr.. Willkie or another
as an official emissary to urge Ire
land to put Irish ports at British
disposal.
Such a move, 1t was declared
might involve not only a guaranty
by Canada and the United States
that the ports would be returned to
Ireland after the war but that Ire
lands dream of union with Northern
Ireland would be realized.
Proposal Rejected.
1t was reliably said that at the
time Britain returned the ports to
Ireland Prime Minister Chamber
lain received a proposal for a Brit
ish-Irish mutual assistance pact
which would have assured British
use of Irish ports in exchange for
a -partitioned Ireland.
Mr.. Chamberlain rejected the pro-
posai, it was said, partly because
of pressure from some Ulster groups
who wished North Ireland to re-
main in the United Kingdom.
The recollection that Prime Min
lister Churchill once opposed turn
ing over the ports to Ireland was
put forth as one reason why Britain
now prefers that United States or
Canada negotiate with Ireland. II
Mr.. Churchill pushed the issue, it
was feared old animosities might be
stirred. it was said.
Mr.. De Valera's position that use
of Ireland's territory by one belliger-
ent would open it to war and make
the country "a cockpit as Belgium
was in 1914 was reiterated last
night in his statement that Irish
ships would not be armed because
to do so might invite further at
tackS