Evening star., 1944-03-11

.
sooner or later the presence o1
American troops and military in
stallations in Northern Ireland
would present a grave question un-
less the Dublin government were to
severe diplomatic relations with
Germany and Japan.
Very little has been heard by the
American people about the neu-
trality Of Ireland in this war. Very
little has been said in criticism OF
the course Of that nation which has
not lifted q finger to help Britain
and has insisted on maintaining
friendly relations with Germany
and Japan.
No Threat or Pressure.
It Is not an easy subject for the
Allies to tackle because II handled
by Britain alone 1t would simply
become enmeshed in the previous
controversial threads leading into
British domestic affairs. But the
initiative now has been sstaken by
the United States with the full
knowledge and assent of the Brit
ish government. Evidently, also,
the Allies are about to depend on
public opinion and full publicity to
persuade the Irish government to
take q course sympathetic to the
Allies. There Is no manifestation
Of any threat or Of economic pres
sure.
Ireland, on the other hand, was
given her independence largely
through the moral support of the
United States. 1t will be recalled
that President Wilson during the
World War took up formally with
Mr.. Balfour the Irish problem,
pointing out that while 1t was
strictly British affair, neverthe-
less Americans felt deep. sympathy
with the Irish cause and hence In
the interest Of national unity in
side the United States 1t was de-
sirable that Britain accelerate a
solution Of the Irish question.
Although Mr.. Wilson was bitterly
assatled by Insh-Americans at the
time they did not know how strenu-
ously he worked behind the scenes
for the cause Of Irish freedom. The
same basic principle is involved to.
day. Ireland must know that q
large section Of American opinion
which has always been friendly to
her will be alienated If the Dublin
government persists in allowing the
German and japanese legations to
be used as a source Of information
which can be utilized by the enemy
to kill American soldiers and sailors
Real Issue Is Military.
The issues Of this war may or may
not be important to the Dublin gov
ernment,. though it would be incred-
ible if the Irish leaders did not see
that their future in world councils
depends on how they act In this
war. But the real issue so far G.
the United States is concerned is a
military one. Ireland is being used
as a base for the benefit of the
Axis and this Injuries the troops of
the United States and causes great
anxiety to our military chiefs. Will
the Dublin government take meas
ures to get rid Of the Axis diplo-
mats? That's the whole problem in
. nutshell.
The use OF secret codes by Axis
diplomats and the use of radio to
transmit instantaneously to Berlin
and Toxic information picked up ir
ireland is well known to British and
American ofdcials. AS the time for
the invasion Of the European con-
tinent approaches 1t Is important
that the Axis spy system shall not
be permitted to operate in Ireland
That country Is too close to Allied
military units. Thus only an
4maginary line in Northern ireland
divides the American troops from
the areas where Axis agents oper-
ate. There is continuous traffic
to and from both areas within Ire
land, says our Department of State
and Axis agents enjoy almost un-
restricted opportunity for bringing
military information Of vital i'm
portance from Great Britain and
Northern Ireland into Ireland and
from their transmitting 1t by vari-
ous routes and methods to Ger
many"
Cannon De Valera knows the
American people and the uninter-
rupted support which has come to
the Irish cause from this country
throughout many years. He, there
fore, has a vital decision to make
which will affect the destiny OF Ire
land for many years to come and
Especially in the postwar period
When the war is over 1t will not be
forgotten who helped and who hin
,dered the victory Of the free ma
tions.
Brooklyn Pastor Speaks