Evening star., 1944-03-14

The accusation that the presence
of legation or embassy Of a bel
ligerent nation on the soil Of neu-
trail territory constitutes menace
to neutrality is something which
has become acute only since the
wireless form of communication has
come into being.
In the old days even If diplo-
mat on neutral soil wanted to COM
municate with the enemy of bel
ligerent power it was a simple mat
ter for the other belligerent either
to cut cable communication or to
confiscate all the mail carried by
merchant ships. An effective block
ade was considered to be legitt-
mate means of interrupting COM
munication with neutral territory.
Situation Of Great Concern.
But in modern times when a diplo-
mat of a belligerent power can sit
in his embassy or legation in a neu-
trail country and put up q short
wave set through which he can
transmit messages to his own gov
ernment, the situation has become
one of great conren to the belliger-
ents. The duties and obligations de-
volving now on neutral govern
ment to see to it that no legation or
embassy misuses its privileges or i'm
munities are such that unless the
neutral government effectually
squelches such communication its
attitude Is tantamount to an un-
friendly or unneutral act.
The theory, of course, is that fall
ure to apply strict neutrality against
any or all diplomats living on neu-
trl soil is a means Of furnishing aid
to one or the other Of the belliger-
ent governments.
In South America, for instance, q
Nazi spy ring Of immense proper
tions was discovered to be operating
In Argen. ina and, as consequence,
after much pressure by the Allies,
the German and Japanese Embassies
were closed down, diplomatic rela-
tions being formally severed.
Fire is face to face with the same
kind OF situation. Either she must
find some effective means of pre-
venting the German and Japanese
Legations from enjoying any form
of communication with the outside
world or else she must be subjected
to the suspicion of aiding Germany
and Japan.
Roosevelt Showed Courage.
-
Neither the British nor the Amer
lean governments would be making |
an issue Of 1t If they did not possess
damaging information tending to
show that the German ands Japa-
nese diplomats were abusing or |
might abuse their privileges in Dub |
lin. For one thing this Is probably
the most tnopportune and en-
moment for President
Roosevelt to raise the question,
especially as he Is on the threshold
of a fourth-term campaign and 1t
would probably be far better politi-
cally for him II he didn't have to
face the consequences Of an Irish
American controversy. His courage
deserves commendation.
AS for Britain, there too the
Irish question has domestic compli-
cations and the Churchill cabinet
would not have grown SO insistent
as to make an open issue of it If
there had not been some underlying
reasons which were military in
nature. So with American and Brit
ish lives at stake the demand that
Fire observe true neutrality and
cease giving aid and comfort to Ger
many and Japan by means Of the
German and Japanese Legations Is
. logical development.
The open approval of the De
Valera rejection Of American de-
mands which the Japanese Inform
nation Board in Toxic has just
voiced to the press will not tend to
ease the situation. For what Toxic
approves is likely only to confirm
the belief that something of a tangi-
BILE value is being furnished in Dub
lin to the Japanese. The episode
can only have one ending-Eire
must rid herself of German and
Japanese diplomats. 1t is incon-
ceivable that Fire would risk the
consequences that might otherwise
flow from failure to protect Amer
lean and British lives from es-
pionage In Dublin.
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