An Extract from the Minutes

 

The Conscription Debate

14^th November 1939

 

The Society’s first debate of the year, “That it is the opinion of this House, in view of the threat to small nations, that the government should introduce conscription immediately,” attracted about fifty members to the Greek Hall on Tuesday, 14^th November 1939.

 

Prof. D. Murphy, M.A., Ph.D., was in the chair.

 

Owing to the Auditor’s and Secretary’s being late, due to their attending of an administrative council meeting, the minutes of the previous General Meeting were considered as being read. Those who spoke were:

 

            Pro:                                                                 Con:

            Mr C. M. A. Arthur                                       Mr T. Woods

            Miss E. O’Malley                                          Mr B. Ward

            Mr P. O’Malley                                              Bro. Timothy

            Mr P. Maher                                                  Miss C. Fitzgerald

            Mr W. J. C. Horan                                        Miss K. McCarrick  

            Mr M. G. O’Beirne

 

Mr C. M. A. Arthur, opening the debate, gave his usual polished speech and spoke of the healthy barrack-life, which he found most pleasant during six years service in the British and Irish Armies. He advocated the glamorisation of army life, the granting of good conduct badges, the enlargement of the existing Irish Army bands, etc. In concluding, he said that democracy was worth fighting for.

 

Mr T. Woods opened for the opposition, and in a speech which promised well spoke of the useless and unnatural work which he maintained characterised a soldier’s life. He mentioned Tolstoy in support of this contention, and said that instead of dying for his country, the patriot should be prepared to live for it. In consequence of an interruption, Mr Woods seemed to wander from his line of thought and ended rather prematurely.

 

Miss E. O’Malley thought that 250,000 men should be able to defend this country against attack. Adopting Mr Arthur’s suggestion that the women present should give their views on conscription, she said that women expected their men-folk to answer their country’s call and to take up arms.

 

Mr B. Ward, following, said that the Volunteer Force was quite sufficient, with the regular army, to defend the country – in so far as it could be defended. He thought conscription expensive for, and hurtful to, the economic life of the country, and pointed out that conscription would interfere seriously with University life.

 

Mr J. Redmond was next on the list of speakers, but as he was unavoidably absent, the next speaker on the pro side, Mr O’Malley, was called on to speak. He advocated the conscription of wealth and mentioned the sum of £20,000,000 for a national defence, with particular regard to building up of a strong air arm.

 

Br. Timothy, O.F.M., naturally enough stressed the moral aspect of war, and quoted St. Thomas Aquinas’ teaching on the subject. In an eloquent speech he mentioned that the Allied cause was a just one as, he said, the Nazis were attempting to spread their paganism farther afield. Conscription would only create a wrong impression of our neutrality as we need not fear invasion and civil war would result if it were introduced.

 

The Auditor (Mr P. Maher) said that it was the general opinion that the soldier’s life was not a very noble, or respectable one – a view which he did not subscribe to. He said that in this present war we were open to attack from both sides, and that both the unemployed and the subversive elements in the country could be very profitably engaged in the interests of national defence. On Mr Maher’s mention of “keeping the home fires burning” the Chairman contended that the College Caretaker, Mr Pat Higgins, had not acted in that spirit by neglecting to provide a fire in the hall while the debate was in progress. In conclusion, Mr Maher denied that conscription was divorced from the democratic ideal.

 

Miss C. Fitzgerald was of the opinion that military life was not conducive to good living, saying that drunkenness was very characteristic of soldiers. Conscription would be costly in the country, besides causing great hardship by depriving families of their bread-winners. The looser morals of the last twenty-five years were attributable to the last Great War.

 

Mr W. J. C. Horan contended that men of all ages and nations thought it fit to go out to fight for their country, and added that it was a corporate duty for every citizen to be prepared to fight in defence of the common weal.

 

Mr M. G. O’Beirne realised, he said, that conscription would have a hostile reception from many who would be called to the colours and that disturbances might break out as a result of its being enforced; but being a small, under-populated country, Ireland had no other alternative if it were to defend itself successfully. The state was a servant, not a master, and it was its duty to protect its citizens. He knew from personal experience that army life was a healthy one and suggested that conscription would get rid of illegal organisations in this country.

 

Miss K. McCarrick asked what was the use of conscription since we were pledged to neutrality, and therefore need fear no invasion or foreign power.

 

Prof. Murphy, summing up, complimented the speakers on a very good debate. The motion on being put to the House was carried by the Chairman’s casting vote. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr Maher and seconded by Mr Horan, was passed unanimously.

 

W. J. C. Horan                                                                                 P. Maher

Hon. Secretary                                                                                  Auditor