740.0011 European War 1939/6918
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary
of State (Welles)
[Washington,] November 9, 1940.
The Irish Minister called to see me this morning. The Minister gave
me a copy of the speech of Mr. de Valera of November 7 with regard
to the utilization of Irish ports by the British Government.
The Minister likewise gave me a memorandum of the points which he
made in our conversation. Both of these documents are attached
herewith.10
In reply to the Minister I stated that the statement which he had
made and the speech of Mr. de Valera made the position of the Irish
Government very clear and that I could inform him categorically that
[Page 167] no approach had been
made to this Government by the British Government in regard to this
subject.
I said that I did not, of course, intend to imply that I was
questioning the wisdom of the policy of the Government of Eire, but
that I wondered what the situation of the Irish people would be if
Germany defeated the British, or were placed in a position of
domination over the British Isles. I said, of course, the Minister
had agreed with me that the utilization of southern Irish ports
would be of great service to the British Navy under present
conditions and that it would seem as if through its attitude on this
question the Irish Government was jeopardizing its own security. The
Minister said that there was no question about the value to the
British of southern Irish ports, but that there was likewise no
question but that if the Irish Government permitted this step,
feeling in Ireland would turn bitterly against the British and it
was highly probable that revolution would develop within the Irish
Free State. Moreover, the Minister added, the Irish had absolutely
no means of withstanding aerial attack and the Government was unable
to obtain either planes or antiaircraft artillery. Under such
conditions, he said, the Irish Government could do nothing else than
adhere to a policy of neutrality.
[Annex]
The Irish Legation
to the Department of State
At the outbreak of the war the Irish Government in accordance
with previously stated policy declared Ireland’s neutrality.
This policy was supported by all parties in the Dail and by the
entire press of the country.
Britain did not question Ireland’s right to declare this policy
and no attempt was made to interfere with, it. The policy of
neutrality has been scrupulously observed. The Government
established a costly Coast Watching Service to see that none of
the warring powers should take advantage of it. In order to
defend Ireland’s independence and safeguard its neutrality the
Government raised the armed forces to 200,000 men, all
volunteers. A similar force in the United States in proportion
to population would be eight million men.
The friendly feeling between the British and Irish peoples which
had arisen after the settlement of 193811 was steadily increasing
in spite of the fact that the last remaining grievance of the
Irish people, that of Partition, had not been remedied.
[Page 168]
On November 5th the British Prime Minister12 in the course of
a speech in the House of Commons said that Britain’s deprivation
of the use of Irish ports as naval and air bases was a serious
handicap in fighting the war being waged on British shipping.
This was followed by a chorus of demands in the British
Parliament and in the British press for the return of these
ports to England and this campaign found an echo in the American
press. Press statements emanating from London asserted that the
good offices of the President of the United States might be
enlisted to induce the Irish Government to concede the use of
the ports by Britain.
In the view of the Irish Government cession or lease of the ports
would be a breach of neutrality which would bring Ireland into
the war contrary to the declared policy of the Government and
the wishes of 99% of the people.
Mr. de Valera asserted on the 7th November that Ireland would
resist by force any attempt to occupy the ports or to impair
Ireland’s sovereignty by any of the belligerents. That is the
determination of the Government and of the people. Under no
circumstances will this policy be departed from.
The Government and people of Ireland are in hopes that America,
the cradle and home of democracy, will realise the justice of
Ireland’s attitude in thus seeking to preserve its independence,
its peace and its democratic institutions.
