I found Lara Marlowe’s comments under the above heading (Aug 13) intriguing, and and not for the first time.
Some years ago in the former Irish College in Paris, together with a Maynooth Professor who moonlighted at West Point, (where he appeared to have acquired his Moral Compass)she helped launch an attack on the moral delinquency of Eamon de Valera and the Irish electorate, for remaining neutral from 1939-1945.
During most of that time the vast majority of French Parliamentarians and populace had made terms
with the German Reich, having had little choice after their British allies, and General de Gaulle himself, made hostile noises from London to which they had repaired in a hurry.
I believe Ms Marlowe retains her United States citizenship. American alliance with Britain was not the choice of FDR and the US Congress.
Adolf Hitler, whose accession to power n March 1933 was enthusiastically received by THE IRISH TIMES, felt honour-bound to declare war on the United States in support of his Japanese allies.
Ms Marlowe professes to be shocked by by the Ribbentrop – Molotov Pact of 1939.
Ribbentrop was a favourite in London Tory circles and among Unionists in the North of Ireland.
In 1934 Poland made a 10 year non-aggression Pact with the 3rd Reich. And in 1938 Poland
joined Hitler in seizing part of Czechoslovakia. From 1929 onwards Soviet Foreign Policy
was directed ny Maxim Litvinov and promoted international disarmament and peace. France
and the Soviets were prepared to defend Czechoslovakia and the British appeared disposed to
join them until Chamberlain surrendered to Hitler at Munich.
Winston Churchill’s speech in the House of Commons 5th October 1938 denouncing the Munich
Agreement, and denounced Poland’s role and the conduct of the Polish Foreign Minister Colonel Beck.
If President Putin uses history as a weapon he has no need to to twist history, and so far as I can
learn he has not done so.
If the charge levelled by Ms Marlowe against President Putin was supported by the American Seymour Hersh , or the Australians John Pilger or Julian Assange, or a Briton of the calbre of the late Robert Fisk I would give it my consideration.
That was the text sent today to the Editor of the IRISH TIMES.
For Ms Marlowe’s comments on 13 August.
In February 1933 THE IRISH TIMES in an Editorial predicting the ruination of Ireland if Fianna Fail, which had been in office for a year was to be returned to power. Fianna Fail was returned with an overall
majority and remained in power following numerous general election for 15 unbroken years.
During that time it fought and won an Economic War with Britain, increased industrial employment
saw a huge local government building programme of first class estates, gave industrial workers one
week’s statutory paid annual leave, got rid of the oath to the British Monarch, took the lead at the
League of Nations in defence of its Covenant, demanded sanctions on Japan for its attack on China, and on Fascist Italy for the rape of Abyssinia,. De Valera condemned Hitler’s Nuremberg Decrees
which stripped German Jews of their citizenship and employment rights, drafted a Republican Constitution which was enacted by the citizens at the polls, saw the British evacuation of Cork
Harbour, Bantry Bay and Lough Swilly. All without firing a shot. When Orwell was writing
The Road to Wigan Pier, and Steinbeck “The Grapes of Wrath” Ireland was progressing.
The Blueshirts praised the rape of Abyssinia and Desmond Fitzgerald found fault with de Valera’
speaking up for the Jews in Germany.
I don’t know what other Government leaders said in favour of the Abyssinians or of German
Jews and the Pope kept schtum.