Shamrocks to the Fore

Irish Rhetoric Invades V.U.C.

First on tne platrorm Mr. O'Connor was somewhat disappointing—tall, aggressive in appearance, he behaved like a lamb. Debating from an isolationist viewpoint he said that the Irishman is a realist—he remembers the promises of the last war.

"Neutrality without logic means peace without pride," replied Mr. Quilliam speaking slowly, selecting each word as if from a bucket. A mortified audience learned that the Atlantic Charter "went by the board some time ago." Erect and motionless as ever, Mr. O'Leary carefully proceeded to elucidate Eire's economic position. Her credit balance had risen by fifty million pounds since the outbreak of war he said. Also the plank of neutrality maintained by most Irish political parties was backed to the limit by the people.

"Eire lost her chance when she refused America's note on neutrality," remarked Mr. Bennet. "Nations at war gain strength, neutrals remain ns weaklings."

In answering this Mr. O'Brien chose the case of the last war neutrals—Switzerland and Holland. "America has built skyscrapers for wondering continentals and ignorant orientals." Motto: Look after your own people. In addition he stated that 172,000 British women and children were sheltering in Ireland in the present war.

Mr. Cunningham, a colossus in miniature, spoke of the lights that guided German bombers to Bristol and of the German legation In Dublin alleged to have a staff of 120 (here Mr. O'Leary claims 8—stalemate). "The fifty million pounds is blood money—it has been said that the English never remember while the Irish never forget: perhaps this time the English will be magnanimous enough to forgive and forget"

Speakers from the floor were few, probably due to the relatively poor attendance, but such as there were became quite lively.

Subjecting the audience to a veritable machine gun fire of words Miss O'Flynn delivered the most emotive speech of the yedr. One was only conscious of the dead shamrock leaves, the drops of Irish blood and the blots on English history—all swirling around in some eternal vortex. She cited the case of India and quoted the Atlantic Charter. "If the leader of the negative went and spoke in Dublin as he has spoken here to night," she rapped, "he would not come back!" ("Of course there's no gold on the moon," Pat had replied to a friend. "If there was the bloody murderin' English would have colonised It long ago.")

Mr. Hartley, reclining comfortably against the visitors' table, quietly chatted to the audience about the Roman Catholic elements in the affirmative, a line which consequently entangled him in a mesh of contradictions from Mr. O'Brien. "I don't want to get into an argument on stage," he protested.

Miss Crompton dealt with the matter from a more rational point of view and while admitting Irish skepticism of the British pictured the possibilities of an enslaved Ireland under German domination. "The only safety valve for unemployment has been work in England," she said. Speaking on the same side Mr. Campbell stressed the importance of the psychological factor. The Irish missed the bus in not having the courage to fight with England.

The contest was very ably judged by Mr. Howard Wadman, who criticised the speakers in some detail. The standard had not been high, probably due to prejudice on the part of many speakers. By the genteel handling of his notes one speaker reminded him of a Sunday school teacher; and as for the phrase—far more brighter, "Well, only Shakespeare can get away with that," he added with a grin. From the speakers he placed Miss Crompton together with Mr. [unclear: Cunnlngha] first, with Miss O'Flynn a close second.

The motion was then put to the meeting and, lost.