"IRISH BRIDGE WITH ENGLAND"
Sfit,—Under the above heading, in the Spectator of May 6th, you appear to suggest "that the really important thing is to ensure that the new era of friendly feeling and close co-operation between the two countries, forecast by the Prime Minister of Eire, is not marred by any legal quibbles." You go on to say that the Ireland Bill "contains one piece of legal precision which will do anything but encourage friendly feelings in Eire," that is, the safeguard about Partition which has been guaranteed to the people of Northern Ireland. Readers of the Spectator are so accustomed to be given a clear lead on important issues that I venture to say many of them will look upon such a comment from you as somewhat ambiguous and not in line with previous notes on the same subject. May I, greatly daring, ask whether it is your intention to discountenance the provision which is • looked upon by the Northerners as an absolutely indispensable safeguard. In this connection may I point out that Mr. De Valera, in his winding- up speech this week at the debate between him and Professor Savory, M.P., in the hearing of a crowded meeting, of whom I was one, stated with gesticulatory emphasis, and repeated again and again, that "so long as this iniquity of Partition is continued you are going to have every young person in Ireland interested in a desire for your downfall."—Yours
faithfully, WILLIAM JAY. -Lancaster Gate, W.2.
[There is no such intention. The sentence quoted merely stated a plain fact. As for the clause defining the position and rights of Northern Ireland, it goes in no way beyond the statements made in the House of Commons by Mr. Attlee, and is on all grounds fully justified.—Ed., Spectator.]
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