Former Minister for External Affairs, Seán MacBride recalls how Ireland set about building international relations.
Seán MacBride served as Minister for External Affairs from 1948 to 1951. The focus for this new government ministerial position was on developing European relations. Seán Mac Bride worked on the preparation of the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights which was adopted in 1950.
Seán MacBride believed Ireland should remain neutral and not join NATO. There could be no alliance for Ireland when part of the country was already being occupied militarily
Once you join the military alliance, you've no freedom of action. You tie yourself up to backing whatever war that military alliance goes into.
In terms of future membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) Seán MacBride explains that there is no military commitment involved. The common market has nothing to do with NATO. There are three distinct and separate types of organisations in Europe. These are the Council of Europe as the political body of European policy making, the economic community dealing purely with economic issues, and NATO dealing with military matters and includes the USA and Canada.
There's absolutely no reason why our membership of the common market should in any way tie us directly or indirectly to any NATO policies.
This episode of 'Wednesday Report' was broadcast on 8 April 1970. The presenter is Aindrea Ó Gallchoir.
