Evening star., 1944-03-14
Nazi Ships Head Toward Odessa
Hinting 'Dunkerque' to Rumania;
Fire to Be |so|ated> Churchill SAYS
Extension of
Restrictions
Clearly Implied
BY the Associated Press.

os lhS ASoUEidteu TItSS.
LONDON, Mar. IA. Prime
Minister Churchill told Com
mons today that Britain and the
United States plan "to isolate
Southern Ireland from the outer
world"-a virtual quarantine by
methods yet to be disclosed
which would seal off that po-
tential spy post during the pc
riod before the opening of the
western front.
Mr.. Churchill's words clearly i'm
piled an extension of restrictions to
the border between Northern Ire
land and Fire, and perhaps even a
semiblockade of Fire, where Presi-
dent de Valera has refused to close
German and japanese Offices.
Restrictions on travel to Fire, Mr..
Churchill said, are "the first step
in a policy designed to isolate Great
Britain from Southern Ireland, and
also to isolate Southern Ireland
from the outer world during the
critical period now approaching"
IF catastrophe were to occur to
the Allied armies which could be
traced to the retention of German
and japanese representatives in
Dublin, gulf would be opened be-
tween Great Britain on one hand
and Southern Ireland on the other
which even generations would not
bridge" the Prime Minister told
Commons.
Text of Statement.
The text of Mr.. Churchill's state
nent follows:
The initiative in this matter was
taken by the United States Govern
ment because of the danger to the
American armed forces from the
presence of Axis missions in Dublin.
The British government, however,
were consulted throughout by the
United States Government and gave
the American approach full support.
I'VE have for some time past taken
a number Of measures to minimize
the dangers arising from a sub
stantial disservice to the Allied cause
involved in the retention by Mr.. De
Valera's government of the Ger
man Minister and japanese Consul
with their staffs in Dublin.
THE time has now come when
these measures must be strength
ened and the restrictions on travel
to Ireland announced in the press
yesterday are the first step in q
policy designed to Isolate Great
Britain from Southern Ireland and
also to isolate Southern Ireland
from the outer world during the
critical period which now is ap-
preaching.
Must Obtain Security.
II need scarcely to say how pain
full 1t Is to us to take such meas
ures in view Of the large numbers
of Irishmen who are fighting so
bravely in our armed forces and the
many deeds of personal heroism
by which they have kept alive the
martial honor of the Irish race.
mo one, think, can reproach us
for precipitancy No nation in the
world would have been so patient
In view, however, of the fact that
both British and Dominion lives and
the lives of the soldiers of our
Allies are imperiled, we are bound to
do our utmost to obtain effective
security for the forthcoming opera
tionS.
There is also the future to con-
slider. If a catastrophe were tc
occur to the Allied armies which
could be traced to the retention OF
the German and Japanese repre-
sentatives in Dublin, gulf would be
opened between Great Britain on
the one hand and Southern Ireland
on the other which even generations
would not bridge.
The British government would
also be held accountable to the peo-
pie OF the United States if it could
be shown that we had in any way
tailed to do everything in our power
to safeguard their troops"
Forecasts Necessary Measures"
Sir William Henry Dawson, Con.
servative, asked later whether the
Prime Minister considered it es-
sentlal that the Ulster Fire border
be closed "in view of the activities
OF the IRA Grish Republican
Army, who had declared war on
Britain and had recently been ap-
pretended with papers giving par
ticulars of the American forces al
present in Ulster and with certain
plans Of their operations"
Il prefer to confine my state
ment in general terms today" Mr.
Churchill replied. "All the neces-
sary measures within the limits
which 1 have described will OF