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()mew. ORGAN OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH. ESTABLISHED 1874. No. 2,227.
'PHONE B6950 450 Hay Street,
Registered at the G.P.O., Perth, for transmission by post as a newspaper.
PRICE THREEPENCE
PERTH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1946.
Perth.
Box A35, G.P.O., Perth.
SEVENTY-THIRD YEAZ
IS THERE A PLACE FOR NEUTRALS IN THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER? Regional Defence Programme ,Bars Eire From U.N.O.
Nor fortunately do the in- believe that no nation in the world, habitants of the twenty-six coun- big or small, should have the right ties attempt to confound political to do as it pleases. When a nation neutrality with indifference to insists on such a right for itself it human suffering. In answer to my automatically gives the same right questions on this score was as- to all other nations. Whatever sured that Eire was in fact ra- might be said about sovereignty, tioning itself to provide subsis- Eire does not believe that any
rity.
tence to distressed European coun- country has a right to do as it tries. And I was reminded that all pleases. during the war Eire was having a Mindful of the fact that Eire a great struggle to keep alive. The overwhelmingly Catholic, I asked small Irish merchant marine suf- a prominent leader of the Fianna fered losses to the extent of twenty Fail party, which has 76 seats in ships, sixteen through belligerent the Dail, whether he did not think action, in which 138 lives were lost. that his government should join HOW A CHRISTIAN NATION PRACTISES CHARITY To escape the charge of indiffer- the United Nations at once for the ence to human suffering Eire could reason that it would thus be in a easily allege that richer, more position to add its voice on beWeeks of looking down from the May 20, 1945, while the San Fran populous, countries should under- half of Christian principles. Ilia press gallery upon the delegates to cisco Conference was under way, take the task rather than a nation answer was that no doubt even a the United Nations General As- Mr. De Valera said: "We in the that had been itself under very small nation, by eloquently invoksembly leave you with fixed mental past have given full adherence to rations for six years. limited images of the various distinguished these principles and were one of ing the principles of justice, could and not-so -distinguished diplomats. the most loyal members of the old powerfully affect the course of an to Relief. Contributions But sooner or later your mind League of Nations. So we are preinternational assembly. As for does Eire not belong to Eire, other considerations enter in. takes a turn, in obedience to some pared to become a loyal member phychological law, and you find of any new league that may be U.N R.R.A. Her charitable efforts First of all. she would have to behave been her own and are being come a member, and that under yourself thinking about those formed for collective security, if it carried on without international circumstances that were honourStates which are not represented promises to be an effective instruDE VALERA. on the Assembly floor below you, ment for peace and accords all na-in no hurry to join U.N.O. publicity But officials at Govern- able and in harmony with her nament Building, Dublin, like to tional The delegates at U.N.O. are from tions a fundamental equality of Rut when I countries which have been at war right:' point out that whereas U.N.R.R.A. pressed him on the duty of Cathowith the Axis. But where are the The record of Irish participation as a matter of course that a pro- asks its members to contribute lics to take part in such internaneutrals? What is to be their in the League of Nations is suffi- gram of "regional defence" would only one per cent of the national tional gatherings, he replied: "That part in the new international order, ciently clear to leave no doubt include such facilities. Now, while income, Eire has done better. is true, but Catholics in the United and what do they think about that this statement of the Taoi- the Irish could not consistently Eire's annual income is approxi- States are in a different position U .N .0.? seach is not just a formula to cover refuse such contributions to an mately M50,000,000-about one bil- from Catholics in Eire, as the con- United States is in a different posiSwitzerland is keenly anxious to up a basic lack of sympathy for international organisation of which lion dollars. She has already join the United Nations. provided the idea of organised co'eperation they are a member, they don't tributed £3,000,000 to war relief. tion from Eire itself. Your counit can retain its cherished neutra- among nations. But it is a differ- want to be included in a military An account of actual recent pur- try can do more than raise its lity. Sweden has discussed the ent matter when it comes to the scheme which is basically designed chases was circulated in the Dail voice. You can do more than talk. question of membership in its Par- actual question that I put to the for the defence of Great Britain. on January 31. This covered ship- You can effect good decisions and liament but seems to have reached political leaders I met in Dublin: This would be a reversal of the ments costing 665.216 dollars to prevent bad ones." I swould asEire intend to join the stand they took during 'the war. France, 713,612 dollars to Belgium, sume from this statement that he no decision. Portugal has not said Does a word. Spain will never be ad- United Nations? The general at- Until the partition issue is settled 917,372 dollars to Italy, 1,531,376 did not think Catholics abroad mitted, according to a resolution titude currently adopted by the to their satisfaction, the Irish dollars to the Netherlands. Addi- need take their cue from what Ireof the current Assembly, as long as Irish Government is one of watch- seem to think that they have more tional shipments costing 935,345 land does and thinks in the matter "the present regime" is in power. ful waiting. From its viewpoint to lose than they would stand to d011ars were made to the Inter- of the United Nations. Vatican City is in no hurry to join there is no existing reason that gain from joining the United Na- national Red Crass for Albania, Some Ameridan journalists to Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poand may even make it plain that compels immediate application for tions. land and Yugoslavia. The items whom I spoke upon my return to it feels it is not expedient to join. membership. Looking Back on Neutrality. best London and U.N.O. recalled that. There remains Ireland, probably The visitor from a country that thus sent abroad were Eire's First of all, the Irish are not the most conspicuous neutral of sure that they will be welcome. has been a belligerent is naturally products. They were such food- De Valera had imposed a rigid cheese, creamery censorship during the war. "No as bacon, stuffs Irish the were the war. What They point to the fact that the curious to discover whether the thinking about the business going United Nations has yet to issue a Irish have anY regrets for main butter, condensed and dried milk. wonder the Irish didn't go to war commodities against the Nazis. They never on at London? Would they join general appeal to the neutrals, or taining their neutrality during the sugar, baby food and soon? Was their wartime neutra- to give any formal or informal in- war. I asked a number of people such as blankets gloves, socks, knew about Belsen or Buchenwald. lity sign of a determination to re- dication that new members are that question. The answers I got knitted sndergarments and yarn. De Valera wouldnt let them main aloof from the problems and sought, in the Emerald Isle they were emphatic. If anything, the Cattle and horses were also ship- know." That is what they told sufferings that will face the post- feel that the United Nations Irish feel they have saved them- ped abroad. And Eire rations all me. To that statement I am not these products of her own farms attempting an answer. The acwar world? should make its character more -wives from contamination by keepand factories. Ireland is not a rich cused can defend themselves. But The following lines are merely fully known than is discernible at mg out of a conflict that ended o: even fertile country. The popu- whatever the answer, it will be jottings taken down after a too- present. In a certain sense they with many moral compromises. I lation statistics for 1943 released forthcoming without bitterness or hurried trip to Eire and Northern feel that it is not they but the was told again and again that this in January this year shows a total rancour. Eire's leaders respe^t Ireland. The purpose of these few United Nations who are on trial neutrality was not something im- population in the twenty-six coun- America and seek her friendship. days of absence from the United before the bar of world opinion. posed from on top but sprang up ties of only 2,949,713. With some They look to the- United States Nations was to get official and Since the beginnings of the new :rom below, from the popular deof annoyance mixed with to provide the world the Christian semi-official attitudes on questions organisation were deliberately limi- mand. Any public leader who signs they tell you that many of leadership the world needs. That related to the London gathering. ted to those who had declared war sponsored another policy was pride are still serving in the Brit- may seem strange to hear coming This is not a general report on on the Axis, they feel that the bur- courting political disaster. The theseforces. Whatever the- world out of Holy Ireland, but that is den of making it work does not six parties in the two general elec- ish Eire. of them there is no one what was said to me. the few neutrals who tions of 1943 and 1944 were unani- may thinkin Ireland today. If you Eamon de Valera, the Taoiseach, rest with indirectly mous on this point. The Fianna ashamed excluded. thus were made or Prime Minister, has never Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, National don't count Partition (and that's himself inaccessible to journalists. Regional Defence Problem. Labour, Clann Na Talmhan and not counting a lot) about the only Nor did I find that he made any the Independents each alleged that thing they complain about is the very particular are some There exception in my case. Quite the it was their program that had shortage of tea, half an ounce per like Irish would the that questions for unfortunately Sweeps contrary. But, De week per person. For an Irishman made neutrality possible. the journalist, Mr. de Valera has to see answered before they under- Valera's supporters delight at this that is an outrage. of memberobligations the take OPEN never allowed himself to be a point to remind you that Cosgrave The efforts of Eire to do its quoted, since the beginning of the ship, For instance. they castthe was compelled on July 17, 1941, to share in relieving human needs war. He has reserved his public very dubious eye indeed on repudiate the suggestion of the arising as the aftermath of war, statements to himself. Many of program of "regional defence" then vice president of Fine Gael, and its pre-war record as an active enof the key part which forms a these, like his famous reply to J, M. Dillon, that perhaps Eire member of the League of Nations, Churchill, have been masterpieces. forcement provisions of the Chardocu- should enter the war. That the I can easily imagine that many a ter. By the terms of this them- vice-president of the opposition leave no doubt that the people are aware of their international recorrespondent has wished he could ment, all members obligate to provide "forces, facilities party had to resign after such a sponsibilities. But her present get the exclusive rights on a De selves as dramatic given is statement SeValera statement. But they, like and other assistance" to the of evidence that neutrality was not a political leaders entertain doubts about the basic structure of the myself, had to send back general curity Council in the execution creation of De Valera's stubborn- United Nations. One official told very Eire it is For its decisions. pieces which, however euthentic, ness, American and British news- me he was in favour of an organiwould those "facilities" clear what a lacked the punch that only the ports and bases papers to the contrary notwith- sation ,without privileged Powers straight De Valera statement could mean. They are which they had consistently de- standing. which are beyond the law bS reaTickets WO° ea We have. everywhere es direct nied to the warring United NaEire's attitude toward the neces- son of veto rights. I asked him from the Lotteries ComEire is in no hurry to join the tions, even under the severest kind sities of human beings in stricken what he thought about the prinC 104, El o a missions, United Nations, This does not of moral and material pressure, Europe is a better way of judging ciple of absolute sovereignty. His ., Perth. come from anY dislike of the prin- The importance of such ports and Irish neutrality. A Christian coun- answer to this question was that ciples of international organisa- bases to Britain has been so clearly try cannot allege political reasons he did net care to emphasise the tion. In a speech delivered on emphasised that the Irish take it for not practising Christian cha- word sovereignty but that he did.
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