GREAT BRITAIN AND EIRE
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In this paragraph of " News of the Week " in the issue of January 14th, after expressing the opinion that no form of pressure on Northern Ireland could be tolerated, you state " Opportunity may arise, now or in the future, for a British Prime Minister to use his good offices at Belfast. If so, it must be seized and doubtless will be."
Obviously, this is saying either too much or too little. Does it mean that as in June, 1914, our party politicians are to ge t ready to betray the Northern loyalists as they betrayed the Southern ? It was only because then British officers in Dublin refused, to their eternal honour, to draw their swords against Ulster brethren that a real Civil War was averted, the danger being over on August 4th, 1914.
Bitter experience of the way of English politicians compels Ulster Unionists to view with deep suspicion the contemplated talks between Mr. Neville Chamberlain and Mr. de Valera.— [Our observation meant exactly what it said. A British Prime Minister might obviously in certain circumstances be able to play a very useful part as intermediary between Northern and Southern Ireland.—En. The Spectator.]
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