CAB80-13 — Page 179

Page 179

Page 179

163

We have recently sent air and army Attaches to Dublin and have held some hasty and surreptitious "Staff Conversations

In the event of hostilities it is the intention that the 61st Division should take over the defence of Northern Ireland and thus relicve the 53rd Division for mobile operations, if called upon, in support of Eire.

The Royal Marine Brigade is also moving to the Milford Haven area where it will be available for employment in Eire should an emergency arise.

In spite of these resources, however, the situation is very serious and it seems certain that unless strong British forces can be stationed in Eire before any invasion takes place a large part of the country at any rate must be overrun before help can arrive.

4. Mr. de Valera's Government are frightened, and we have today a contact with them which while all too ineffective for military purposes is closer than anything for twenty years. The all party rally in Dublin on 16th June showed that they are at last waking up to the dangers of the position. But it is vain to imagine that there can be any security for Eire or for the United Kingdom unless we get together and make proper arrangements, which include the presence of British or Dominion troops and air forces in Eire, and of His Majesty's ships in Irish ports.

5.

-

The main perhaps the sole obstacle to such collaboration is the partition question. We are aware that this is a political problem of a supremely explosive quality. Nevertheless we feel it our duty to inform the War Cabinet that, from the military point of view, the continuation of the partition deadlock is producing a very dangerous military situation.

6.

We suggest that the strongest possible pressure should be put upon the Northern Irish Government, coupled with the necessary conditions to be undertaken by Eire and guaranteed by His Majesty's Government. The latter should include the occupation by British forces of the Irish Atlantic ports, and the immediate adoption of all possible measures to ensure the defence of Eire, such as the internment of Germans and I.R.A. personnel and the reinforcement of Eire by British land and air forces.

7.

We suggest that the people of the North should be tolâ in the plainest terms that if we win the war we shall see to it that a united Ireland is ruled within the Empire as a true dominion with all that it implies; but that if we lose the war as we may well do if the enemy succeeds in subjugating Ireland they will have a unified Ireland in any event, but unified under the German jackboot instead of the British Crown.

-.2-

Page 179

Page 179

Page 179