Deluded Eire The situation in Eire is as fantastically unreal
as so many situations in Eire are. Unfortunately it is as dangerous, for Eire's neighbours as well as herself, as it is unreal. Mr. de Valera resolutely refuses to see anything to choose between Britain and Germany, and will maintain his neutrality to the Iast second against both. To accept the troops of either on Irish soil would, he declares, invite attack from the other. He knows perfectly well, as well as any Dutchman or Belgian or Norwegian, that if it fits in with Hitler's strategy to attack a neutral State like Eire he will attack it regardless of any con- sideration but his own self-interest. He will invade a neutral Eire without compunction if it suits him ; he will leave an Eire defended by British or Dominion troops untouched if that suits him better. Now the evacuation of school children from Dublin before air-raids begin is being urged by the city manager. Air-raids by whom? Not one sane man in Eire believes a single bomb from any British aeroplane will be dropped on Irish soil except in an attack on Germans who have already landed there from air or sea. What becomes, then, of the pretence that there is nothing to choose between the com- batants and both are to be feared equally? Passive defence- evacuation—against German air-raids is now being officially urged, but active defence—acceptance of military co-operation from Britain—is refused as a dangerous breach of Eire's neutrality. Even in Eke this folly cannot indefinitely continue, but sanity may not set in till just too late.
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