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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 1952

Vol. 129 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mutual Security Act.

asked the Minister for External Affairs whether the Republic of Ireland has qualified for American aid under the provisions of the United States Mutual Security Act; and if he can indicate the nature and extent of aid which could be made available to this country; and, further, if he will now give a general statement regarding communications and representations made by either State on the subject.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state whether any communication has been received by the Government from the United States Government requiring consideration by the Irish Government of any matters arising out of the Mutual Security Act.

asked the Minister for External Affairs whether, in view of ministerial statements and Press reports, he will make a statement giving information as to the circumstances under which the technical assistance projects in respect of which no contracts were actually signed, but which had been agreed upon between the Irish Government and E.C.A., have been cancelled.

With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 66, 67 and 68 together.

Since the 7th December, 1951, conversations have taken place between representatives of the Government and of the United States Government, and Notes have been exchanged, relating to the coming into operation of the Mutual Security Act of 1951.

In answer to Question No. 68, I may say that the Government of the United States took the view that, unless the Irish Government adhered to all the principles and purposes of the Mutual Security Act, it was precluded from giving us assistance under that Act and also from paying, out of unexpended balances of appropriations under the Economic Co-operation Act of 1948, for such technical assistance projects as had been agreed to between our two Governments, but in respect of which no contracts had actually been signed before the 8th January, 1952.

The Government recalled a notification received from the United States Government in February, 1951, to the effect that unexpended balances under the Economic Co-operation Act would continue to be available until finally expended, but recognised, of course, that the question of giving or withholding aid is, finally, for the United States Government to decide.

In answer to the first part of Question 66, it is the President of the United States who, according to our reading of the Mutual Security Act, determines what countries qualify or are eligible for free military or free economic assistance under that Act. The Irish Government did not, however, ask for free military aid or for further free economic assistance under the Mutual Security Act but urged that they should be facilitated by the United States Government to purchase supplies of American arms and equipment or the designs and materials for such of those supplies as could be manufactured here.

In the course of the conversations and correspondence it was pointed out that this country adhered, and still adheres, to the principles and purposes of the Economic Co-operation Act 1948 under which the E.C.A. agreement was signed between our two Governments at Dublin in June, 1948 and by virtue of which aid was heretofore granted. We pointed out also in relation to the Mutual Security Act that we sought to promote international understanding and goodwill, to maintain world peace and to eliminate causes of international tension. Indeed, we made it quite clear that it was because we sought these objectives without qualification or reserve that we wished to obtain a peaceful and early ending of the unjust partition of Ireland which not only adversely affects the internal development of the Irish nation but dominates its approach to all questions of external policy.

Would the Minister make available to the House copies of the Notes exchanged between the two Governments?

As the Deputy is aware the publication of Notes is a matter for the two Governments concerned. It is not a matter for this Government alone.

Will the Minister take steps to obtain the agreement of the United States Government to the publication of the Notes that have been exchanged?

That is a matter that will have to be considered, I am afraid.

Will the Minister be in a position to inform the House either in the near or the immediate future whether he is prepared to do so?

We shall have to think over it.

From our point of view the position is that the sooner these Notes are published the better.

The one point I desired to make is that which has already been made by Deputy MacBride. I would ask the Minister to have the matter considered very carefully by the Government as to whether a substantial interest would not be served by the publication at the earliest possible moment of as much of the documentary exchanges between the two Governments as is possible.

As the Deputy is aware the publication of Notes of this kind is a matter for the two Governments concerned. They have to concert their minds on the matter.

I quite understand that, that both Governments are in a position to estimate whether the interests of everybody would not be served by the early publication of the documents.

The Deputy must be aware that he might prejudice the situation by pushing the matter further at this stage.

I am doing nothing except to urge that the fullest and broadest consideration would be given to the matter.

I have already promised that consideration will be given to it.

I wish to know whether the Minister can indicate the extent of the financial loss to this country by reason of the fact that certain contracts or agreements had not been signed before the 8th of December. I wish to know why some arrangements in regard to finance were allowed to lapse because they were not signed before the 8th of December.

I do not know how I can answer that question. There is a sum of ten billion dollars in mutual security funds. Some of that has already been spent——

You said squandered, of course.

May I put this further question to the Minister arising out of Deputy Rooney's question? How much of the Counterpart Fund in respect to goods in transit or committed is going to be lost as a result of the present position?

As the Deputy is aware the grant as well as the loan of dollars were practically spent long before the 31st of December. They were spent in buying dollar goods.

Was the payment received before the end of the year?

The Grant Counterpart——

The Loan Counterpart.

The Loan Counterpart Fund was practically exhausted before the end of the year.

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