Madam, - Dr Karen Devine's response (December 8th) to my initial letter corrects my assertion that Ireland was "cut off" from Marshall Plan funding due to neutrality.
I am indeed guilty of over-simplifying the case - American annoyance over Irish neutrality was such that it allowed Ireland access to "loans" under the Marshall Plan rather than the direct grant aid supplied to other European nations under the plan until 1949. I would consider this a significant difference, but Dr Devine's point stands.
I stand by my assertion that she is misreading the historical basis for neutrality, and her silence on the matter of John A Costello's offer to conclude a bilateral alliance with the USA proves my point.
If Irish neutrality was based on actual security concerns rather than a short-sighted focus on our dispute with Britain, the offer would never have been made.
As an aside - then minister for finance Frank Aiken was strongly opposed to Irish acceptance of Marshall loans due to his belief that this would threaten Irish neutrality. Truly history does repeat itself, first the tragedy of the 1940s, and now the farce of the No campaign. - Yours, etc,
DARAGH McDOWELL,
Goatstown,
Dublin 14.
