Evening star., 1943-04-03


Henry McLenore. the proper
fashion.
Here's why! The Free State is
neutral and its citizens look with
suspicion upon visitors who do not
speak their language. They doubt
the necessity OF your being In their
country and they do not greet you
with the open-hearted warmth so
long associated with the land OF
the jig
Silence Is an Asset.
The best warning that can be
given to any citizen of belligerent
nation who is leaving for Dublin Is
to tell him to keep fairly quiet and
not try to throw his weight around.
The Free Staters may not be in
this global war but they are per-
fectly willing to start one in their
own back yard and with their fists
for armament. This is because they
are bending over backward until
their heads almost touch their heels
in their effort to keep on friendly
terms with all parties who are in
the war
You get the impression from
reading the newspapers, listening
to the radio. visiting the shows and
talking to the citizens that when
this war is over the Free State
wants to be able to say to the vic
tors, Pal, you'll have to admit we
didn't do anything to hurt your
chances"
The movie censorship provides a
good example of this. While the
Free Staters are shown war pictures
whether they are made in Hollywood,
Germany, England or Italy, never
theless the dialogue is cut to such
an extent that no mention is ever
made of what armies are fighting.
OF course, the uniforms worn by the
actors are sufficient to tip of patrons
as to what countries are shooting at
one another.
Mrs. Miniver" Banned.
The Battle of Midway picture was
shown, but never at any time did
the sound track provide even SO
much as hint that it was a battle
between the United States and
Japan or which side won the fight.
The censors seemed to believe Dub
inites would be unable to distinguish
between Jap and American planes
and soldiers.
Mrs. Miniver" was not allowed to
be shown but Richard Watts. former
dramatic critic of the New York
Herald Tribune. now here with the
Office of War Information, told me
a sort OF minor Mrs. Miniver'
called The War Against Mrs. Had
ley was shown and maid was
allowed to rush in In one scene and
cry Macarthur has landed in AUS
tralia''
Rumors that German plane
lands near Dublin every day when
the weather is good and unloads a
batch OF Nazi propaganda are un-
true and so are the reports that
sWastikas fly from the windows CT
buildings. True, there is a Swastika
Laundry on Main street, but the
owner says he was using that name
long before Hitler and that the Ger
mans can change: he won't And.
there Is Mikado confectionery shop
on side street and while the pro-
prietor does not claim having used
that name before the first Japa-
nese emperor, he insists the name
does not hurt the quality Of the
candy.
Fear Postwar Role.
Not far from Dublin there is an
internment camp for flyers and /.
now holds some Is British and 40
German aviators. They are allowed
quite a bit OF freedom. which seems
only right, particularly in the case
Of the British flyers, as most of them
were forced down while guarding
conveys bringing food and gasoline
TO Ireland.
You hear little conversation about
the war. If you start talking about
1t. you are liable to get In an argu-
ment. However, one thing is notice.
able according to some people
talked with. When the war first
broke out. the Free Staters were
afraid Of what would happen to
them If they got into the struggle.
Now that the balance Of power has
swung to the Allied Nations, they
are beginning to worry about what
Is going to happen to them At the
peace table. They wonder II the
stand they chose will give them as
much voice when tho peace pie is
cut.
Distributed bv MeNausht Syndicate, mel
lIs..s.. K:11J Al