Axis Powers. This a great many of the more intelligent Irish people know   
to be a fact, which puts them  
on the defensive and troubles the conscience of more  
honorable minds, but, as long as only immediate advan-  
tage accrues from neutrality, it is probably true that  
the sentiment in favor of it is almost unanimous.  
Among the lunatic fringe of Irish Nationalism, it has  
become a fetish. They speak of being proud of Irish  
neutrality, of being ready to die for it, as if it were  
                   some heroic principle.                   
 
                                                            
 
            AMERICAN TROOPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND             
 
                   ..............  
                                                            
 
 
The effect of Mr. de Valera's protest against the  
presence of American Armed Forces in Northern Ireland  
has been twofold. It has tended to crystallize such  
anti-American sentiment as is inherent in the situation  
because of American aid to Britain, and has made him  
appear again as the champion of Irish Nationalism  
against British Imperialism, but, in strengthening  
his influence with his political Left, he has also  
embarrassed himself by encouraging I.R.A. activities  
both in the North and in Eire, which react against his  
own Government, for the I.R.A. consider him the head  
of an illegal Government and a traitor to the cause  
of the Republic. In this strategy of using elements  
hostile to himself to strengthen his position gener-  
ally, he has shown his old-time skill and astuteness,  
but the time may come when he will have to make a  
choice between our friendship and that policy of  
                         domestic