I move amendment No. 1:—
In sub-section (1), line 20, after the word "purpose" and before the word "and" to insert the words "and after Dáil Eireann has been supplied with and approved of the scheme for enforcing non-intervention."
We have been discussing non-intervention for two or three days. I was glad to hear Deputy Dillon to-day saying that his view of non-intervention is that we in this country want General Franco's side to win and, if non-intervention is conducive to that end, he is for it; if it is not, he is against it. That is precisely my attitude. Seeing that the signs do not indicate that non-intervention will be conducive to the success of General Franco, now that this Bill is forced upon us by the majority machine in this House without giving the matter much thought, I put down this amendment to ensure that, as far as possible, if we are going to have non-intervention, we should know the mechanism of that non-intervention and whether it is likely to be effective.
I have said that the indications are that non-intervention will not be good for General Franco. My reason for saying that is the message appearing in the papers this morning from General O'Duffy. An officer of the Spanish Army could not get out such a message through the censor if General Franco wanted non-intervention. That in itself should have made us go cautiously. But the guillotine had been moved after the House heard the eloquence of my friend on the left. He told us that the only use for Christianity is to cash in on it—that was the diatribe used in this House, and, as Deputy Dillon said at the time, no honourable man would use it. The Deputy who used it cheered for General Franco that day; he cheered for him to-day, but he is voting to crucify him.
If we are going to have non-intervention, what sort will it be? Have we any evidence as to how effective it will be? Nobody from the Government side has told us what steps will be taken to protect, above all, the French frontier. Had those holding that frontier not allowed so many of the Reds to cross over it, the war would probably have been over long ago. Who is going to watch that frontier now? If that frontier is not going to be patrolled and guarded so that the proverbial crow will not pass through, then we are only being hoodwinked in this country and we are doing something that is a crime. I am perfectly convinced that we have committed a crime.
The Minister for Justice and other Ministers said we are doing nothing beyond what other nations are doing. Why were Irishmen let out and then betrayed? My phrase on that was referred to by the Minister—"that though I did not approve of the wisdom of Irishmen going out to fight in Spain." Those were my exact words, delivered in College Green six months ago.