A chara, - Joe Carroll (January 24th) has created a new phenomenon: Irish war guilt. I find his apologetic attitude towards Ireland's wartime neutrality ahistorical and frankly craven. Ireland's record on Jewish immigration was certainly not the greatest chapter in this State's short history - but De Valera's brave stance during the second World War may well just have been.
His visit to Ambassador Hempel, who was not a Nazi, was not an expression of genuine anguish at the death of Hitler, but rather an essential duty of a neutral statesman in a time of war. While his decision may be questioned on the grounds that Irish men and women were neither neutral in mind nor action, it should be remembered that the onus remained on the government to toe the neutral line.
The issue is particularly relevant today, not solely because of the Holocaust commemorations, but also because of our present-day "neutrality". Mr Ahern's view of Irish neutrality Ireland in the Iraq war is a complete facade, his position cowardly, and his complicity with regards to Shannon a disgrace and an embarrassment to the nation. Perhaps Irish war guilt will catch on.
De Valera's wartime actions were heroic and incorruptible - and I'm a Collins man. - Is mise,
ANDREW PIERCE, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.