IAUC Response to “British-Irish Relations”

May 29, 2011

Letters Editor

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Dear Editor:

Your commentary on the relationship between England and Ireland (“British-Irish relations: A royal stamp of approval” 5/21) makes reference to Ireland’s decision to remain neutral in World War II. Her Majesty’s government often uses this reference in media briefing material to denigrate Ireland.

Not 20 years before the outbreak of WW II Britain had unleashed in Irelandcriminals in uniforms who committed mayhem and murder. The British Prime Minister Lloyd George threw the six counties on the bargaining table if his ships could use Ireland’s ports. These were the very same Irish counties for whichEngland murdered and imprisoned thousands for its loyalist minority 20 years earlier. Does it surprise you that Ireland was in little mood to become yet againBritain’s lapdog? It might surprise you that of the 32 other nations that were neutral 27 only became allies after being attacked. Irish was one of the five that remained nominally neutral but history has shown that there was an abundance of cooperation with the U. S. and the U. K. throughout the war.

Why does Britain keep this up? Good question.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Cummings,

IAUC National Board