Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-11-20
W9WCOROUsLX PERMANENTLY Our PROMPTLY
The ORLD
IN REVIEW
By Maj. Gen.
D. P. Barrows


D. P. Barrows
THE reply Of the government
of the Irish Free State, or
Fire. 10 the Allied request that
il do not offer sanctuary TO
German war criminals against
trial and punishment for crimes
which have Mortified the world,
is described by our state de-
partment AS not going as far as
we would have liked.
The Irish government has re-
served its freedom TO admit
refugees, as Justice. charity or
the honor of the nation" may
require, 1t reserves its right TO
determine these cases itself on
the merits of refugee appeals.
This response is Disappointing
TO those of us who believe that
justice should be done, particu-
larly against those leaders in
the highest places, who ordered
or permitted the wholesale and
frightful murder of great num-
bers of people who were their
victims.
The escape Of these respon-
sible leaders 10 neutral coun-
tries where their lives will be
protected would defeat justice.
THE right to extend asylum
Il 10 political refugees is the
recognized right of every inde-
pendent state.
II is a right TO be respected.
The Netherlands stood on this
right in 1919, when il gave con-
tinued sanctuary to William II.
But a proven charge OF MUIR
der against the head Of re-
Sponsible agents Of a nation
that has committed such moral
enormities as has Germany,
should be covered by a doctrine
of international eXtradition.
For while the dignity and in
dependence of a sovereign state
would be affronted by acts of
coercion to compel the delivery
of political refugees, neutral
states deservedly will suffer in
reputation if they harbor in
human and bloody malefactors.
They should yield such crimi-
mails TO exemplary justice.
This Irish incident brings up
another matter.
Ireland's adherence to neu-
traiity in this present war has
added to British difficulties and
for many months it increased
British danger and Allied losses.
Those months were the period
when German submarine activ-
ity severely harried British ship
ping and our OWN.
The best area for this sub
marine war was the sea sur
rounding Ireland. and Great
Britain could not in this war,
as was possible IN the first
world war, use the ports Of
Ireland TO break these subma-
rine attacks.
Although in the original So
called treaty" by which Great
Britain granted full dominion
status to Ireland, these ports
were reserved for the use of
British warships in time of dam
ger, Prime Minister Chamber
lain surrendered this British
reservation shortly before the
outbreak of this war.
The Iris h government was
adamant in refusing to restore
to England this important right.
TIE point I want to make is
l. the extreme patience and
forbearance of Great Britain in
the face of Irish neutrality.
SO far as we know, Gre I
Britain applied no coercion and
has no intention of reducing
Ireland's status as an independ-
ent country.
BY the treaty and by subse-
quent concessions, the British
government gave its word to
Ireland and ii has kept its word.
Yet Ire a n q is one of the
weakest links IN the defense of
Great Britain.
An enemy nation lodg d
there, or enemy intelligence ac-
tivities in a neutral Ireland,
contribute to the d danger of
England's conquest.
Yet England makes no threats
on the grounds Of her own
safety or necessity Of self de-
Tense.
This is an inspiring example
in a world that has suffered not
only in its sense Of security. but
in its adherence to the moral
law.
AS a contrast TO British in
tegrity we have the actions of
Soviet Russia.
The Moscow government in
sistS upon its right to annex the
Baltic republics. to MAIN Fin
land and to shrink the territory
of Poland.
Russia has already declared
the absorption of Estonia.
The excuse made is the right
of securing a strategic frontier
for her own protection.
This is unconvincing, for Rus
sia'S strategic frontier does not
lie in EStonia.
1t lies through the PeipuS
lakes and Narova River which