Sir, – John Bellew (May 26th) is critical of "Eamon de Valera's decision to keep Ireland neutral" during the second World War. It is worth stressing that a national consensus and all-party agreement backed the popular policy. Two Oireachtas members only – James Dillon and Frank McDermott – dissented.
According to your correspondent, “Hitler flirted with the idea of invading Ireland”. If so, he was not alone. In a broadcast on May 14th, 1945, Winston Churchill stated “had it not been for the loyalty and friendship of Northern Ireland, we should have been forced to come to close quarters with Mr de Valera”. – Yours, etc,
JA BARNWELL,
St Patrick’s Road, Dublin 9.