Neutrality saved innumerable Irish lives

IN his letter (‘Neutrality issue is a red herring’, July 8), James A Gleeson opposes Ireland’s traditional stance.

He mentions how many Irish volunteers over past centuries fought in foreign wars for British and mainland European armies.

Yet he forgets American armies, north and south.

Ireland’s tradition of neutrality is traceable to Wolfe Tone (1790). Later James Connolly put it well: “We serve neither king nor kaiser but Ireland”. Our wartime non-belligerence (1934-45) saved innumerable Irish lives. We had no enemies. The visionary values which underpin neutrality are evident in our constitution. Article 29 of Bunreacht na hÉireann stipulates the “pacific (ie, non-military) settlement of international disputes.” Hence a constitutional commitment to the “ideal of peace.”

JA Barnwell

St Patrick’s Road

Dublin 9