Volume 7 1941~1945


Doc No.
Date
Subject

No. 409  NAI DFA Secretary's Files A53

Dearg code telegram from Joseph P. Walshe to Robert Brennan (Washington)
(No. 113)

DUBLIN, 3 April 1944

Aiken wonders if possible get something on following lines published Irish-American paper and cabled back for quotation papers here.

Begins. Bitter resentment in Irish circles New York at propagandist moves to make Ireland scapegoat for any postponement or failure second front. Same attempt was made 1940-41 in relation to Battle of Atlantic. At that time Irishmen pointed out war cannot be won with alibis and that possession of an Ireland every five hundred inches across Atlantic would not counter U-boats or long-distance bombers in view of short range of fighters and that only small aircraft carriers escorting convoys would be effective. This policy adopted May 1941 though not fully in force till 1943 (see 'London Times' sub-leader 2 March, 1944). Partition and possession six counties source of weakness rather than strength for Britain. Allied energy wasted in propagandist moves against Ireland better employed solving political and military difficulties in Europe.
Ends.