Sir, – I welcome the publication of the article “Time to pardon soldiers who left to fight Hitler” (Opinion & Analysis, January 14th) by Joseph Quinn, a young researcher who is doing excellent work on Ireland’s participation in the second World War.
But this remains an emotive subject and I hope that we shall continue to proceed with care in discussion of it. In particular, I do not believe that the case for pardons (in my view, a compelling case) ought to be accompanied by indiscriminate and historically insensitive criticism of the conduct of Eamon de Valera as taoiseach. Neutrality was the only possible policy for the 26 counties in 1939-1945 in the wake of the War of Independence and the Civil War. Éamon de Valera’s conduct of neutrality (while subtly aiding the Allied cause, not least in enabling Irish volunteers to make their way unimpeded to Northern Ireland) was masterly and succeeded in keeping the fragile unity (as well as the sovereignty) of the 26 counties intact throughout the war. For that every Irish man and woman owes him a profound debt of gratitude.
At the same time we owe a debt (also to date unhonoured) to the 111 Trinity College Dublin dead of the second World War (men and women) and I hope that the present provost will give consideration to erecting a suitable memorial within college on their behalf. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Joseph Quinn exhibits a remarkably benevolent understanding of military law. Desertion is a serious matter. “Voluntarily trading uniforms and allegiances” is desertion.
One can only wonder how the British army might have treated its deserters who left to join the Defence Forces. A lot less benevolently, I imagine. – Yours, etc,