Ulster Premier supportive of the British war effort (1942)

Mr Andrews, who was accompanied by Mr R Gransden, secretary to the Cabinet, said that he had travelled to London on departmental business only, and he would be meeting certain British ministers, including Mr Herbert Morrison, the Home Secretary “who is always so helpful in connection with Northern Ireland matters” and Mr W S Morrison, the Postmaster-General.

“I am not meeting Mr Churchill,” Mr Andrews continued, “because there is nothing about which I feel that it is necessary for me to consult him, and I didn't want to take up his time when he has so much very important work to do.”

Mr Andrew said: “In Northern Ireland we are anxious to do as much as possible in the war effort, and if we get the work we have the people to do it. A large number of our unemployed people are women because, owing to the shortage of flax, the linen industry has been heavily hit. These women can be employed in war factories.”

Asked for his views on the Beveridge report, Mr Andrews said that the Northern Ireland government would adopt whatever schemes was ultimately agreed to in Great Britain.

“That,” he pointed out, “is in keeping with our declared policy that the social services shall be maintained at the same standard as those in Great Britain, and so preserve our equal citizenship which in all things we highly prize. Personally, I have no hesitation in saying that the Beveridge report reflects a very earnest attempt to deal with a very important social problem.”

In reply to further questions, Mr Andrews said that the relations between the people of Northern Ireland and the British and American troops stationed there were “very happy”. He said: “As a community the people have done their utmost to make the troops feel at home.

“Although the Compulsory Service Acts do not apply to Northern Ireland,” he said, “thoussands of Ulstermen are serving in the armed forces and the merchant service. We are particularly proud of the fact that so many generals and other officers are Ulstermen. The Air Training Corps has made a great appeal to Ulster boys and I am glad to say that it is already an established success. The ATC boys are very keen and are becoming remarkably efficient.”

Sir Basil Brooke, Minister of Commerce and Production, who had also travelled to London had talks with Sir Stafford Cripps. Minister of Aircraft Production, Sir Andrew Duncan, Minister of Supply, Lord Portal, Minister of Works and Planning, and Lord Torres, textile adviser to the Board of Trade.

In the course of a brief conversation, Sir Basil said: “We are doing much more war work in Northern Ireland than we were some time ago, but there is still room for improvement. We have now about 17,000 unemployed and about 10,000 of these could be absorbed into war industry. Our women are doing a grand job in the war factories, and there are many more who would go into the factories if they had the chance.”