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MEMORANDUM ON THE STATE OF IRELAND
NEUTRALITY
Under Mr. de Valera's leadership, Irish neutrality
had become a synonym for Irish Independence. Notice has,
in effect, been served on all political opponents of the
the case of James M. Dillon, who resigned from his Party, t
Although all shades of political opposition, with the exception of
Dillon, subscribe to the de Valera policy, there is evidently anxiety
among the Fianna Fail leaders
lest, in the event of general elections, discussion break out and
the advisability of neutrality, both as a short-
range and long-range policy be seriously questioned.
Operating as it does to handicap the common defense of the two Islands,
the transport of supplies which maintain Irish economy, and to intrench
German intelligence and Fifth Column agencies on Irish soil, the effect
of Irish neutrality is overwhelmingly in the interest of the 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
is almost unanimous. Among the lunatic fringe of Irish Natio
AMERICAN TROOPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
, and has made him appear again as the champion of Irish Nat