LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
PARTITION AND THE CROWN
Sitt,—Mr. Rawle Knox, in his article entitled Six and Twenty-Six, which appears in your issue of April 30th, seems to me to lose sight altogether of the fundamental reason which prevents Northern Ireland from joining with the South and forming a United Ireland. The issue is simply this—that Northern Ireland could not unite with Eire without losing not only its position as part of the United Kingdom, but even its place in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The following two brief quota- tions make this abundantly clear. Mr. De Valera, speaking in the Dail on June 24th, 1947, said: " If being in the Commonwealth implied in any way allegiance or acceptance of the British King, as King here, we are not in the Commonwealth because the position here is that we do not accept either of these things." If it is objected that Mr. De Valera is no longer Prime Minister, and therefore cannot speak for Southern Ireland, it is only necessary to quote the words of Mr. Sean T. O'Kelly, who is still President of Eire, and who, speaking at Ballina on July 13th, 1947, said: "They would win complete freedom for all the counties of Ireland ; every man and woman of their generation should play their part to put an end to Ireland's last link with the British Empire."
This, then, is the issue clearly stated, and under these circumstances how is it possible to describe this difference, as does the writer of your article, as a " nagging, wasting dispute " ? In the minds of " those fire- eating Northern fellows," to quote Mr. Rawle Knox again, the question of whether or not they are to preserve their rights as forming part of the United Kingdom transcends all questions of race, language and even
religion.—I am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, D. L. SAVORY. Allied Circle, 46 Green Street, Park Lane, W r.
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