740A.00(W)/4–751: Telegram
The Air Attaché in Ireland (Lunde) to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Vandenberg)1
Joint Weeka Number 14.
Political:
Ireland and defense. The arrival back in Ireland of Ambassador Garrett on April 2 from visit to US has had the effect of giving an impetus to a general discussion on the position of Ireland in relation to its defense. In this connection departments attention is invited to despatch number 658 dtd 5 April 19512 entitled “Responsible opinion concerning present position of Ireland and defense.” It should be emphasized that the feeling that Ireland will be occupied by a western power, which this despatch develops, e.g. the United States, has become fairly general. Mr. MacBride, Minister of External Affairs, informed Ambassador Garrett, Thursday that this feeling is “rampant here.”
The Embassy military attaché has pointed out in detail from time to time recently the state of Irish defenses which, in the opinion of observers here, has created a vacuum which will precipitate Atlantic Pact intervention as well as attract “the attention of an adventuresome Russian air staff based in France …” (Re: Despatch 658).
There has been no discussion in the Dail on this question as yet, which illustrates the apathy of the Irish to external matters. However, as above noted dispatch points out, the Embassy believes that forces are at work undermining this apathy and the question holds promise of being discussed with increasing vehemence in the future. The possibility that Ireland’s neutrality would have a better chance of being respected by either side in a future war may possibly spur the government into some kind of action, but embassy does not foresee any radical change in situation because of smug moral attitude which prevails here.
[Here follows comment on internal economic matters and political questions related to the use of Shannon Airport.]