EIRE: Serious View

Although few Irishmen want a totalitarian state for Eire, a large part of Dublin cinemaudiences invariably and enthusiastically applauds whenever Führer Adolf Hitler makes his appearance on the screen. Explanation of this is that anybody who makes things tough for Britain is a hero in Eire.

Chief remaining grudge between Eire and Great Britain are the six predominantly Protestant counties of Northern Ireland which are still separated from Eire and which, at least superficially, are loyally British. The Northern Ireland problem might well have simmered along for many a peaceful year, but the war scare threatens to bring the question to a head.

Come what may, Prime Minister Eamon de Valera's Eire Government does not expect to muster Irish troops to help Britain in a war. Moreover, considering Northern Ireland a part of Eire, the de Valera Government does not want the six counties mixed up with a war. Last week the British Government announced the beginnings of conscription (see p. 20). Promptly Viscount Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, announced that Northern Ireland was a "most loyal part of the United Kingdom and would deeply resent any suggestion that she should not be included in the military training bill."

That was enough to make Mr. de Valera's blood boil. Next day he got up in the Bail Eireann and announced that because of "yesterday's grave event" he had suddenly canceled his trip to. the U. S. to see President Roosevelt and the New York World's Fair. Simultaneously Mr. de Valera informed British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain that his Government would take a "serious view" of any attempt to conscript Irishmen, whether they live in Eire, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales.