Eire and America
The. question has naturally been asked whether the entry of the United States into the war would modify the policy of Eire. Mr. de Valera stated last Sunday that there would be no change, Eire would remain neutral, on the ground that a policy which in- volved participation in the war would divide the people. Did it occur to him that in the eyes of Americans a policy which denies to the Allies the use of bases on the west coast of Ireland, and exposes Allied shipping to attacks from German planes operating from Brittany, is calculated to look very like assistance to Ger- many? This country fully appreciates Mr. de Valera's difficulties, understands his contention that to come into the war with us would divide his people, and knows it would be unwise and unprofitable to ask him to do so. But to state in advance that Eire would render no assistance whatever to the United States —not even the limited assistance of lending bases—is another matter. No doubt Germany might decide to regard limited assistance as an act of war, but her record makes it obvious that she would choose so to regard it only if it suited her book ; and if it did, no neutrality would deter her from action. These, how- ever, are questions between Eire and the United States. If Mr. de Valera is prepared to alienate opinion in America, that is his affair.
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