The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
By William P. Redmond, NJ P, in Wash

By William P. Redmond, M. P, in Wash
 ington Gazette.
 I was in Glasgow when Sir Edward Grey's speech in reply to the President of the United States was made, and I was immensely struck with the extraordinary interest with which the question of treaty with America was received in the great Scottish city A day or two after wards I visited Edinburgh, and there found the feeling the same. Upon all sides the gloom which the announcement of the large increase In the navy vote had created seemed to be relieved, to a considerable extent, by even the bare possibility of an arbitration arrangement which might in the future obviate the spending of vast sums of preparation for war. I attended five large meetings in Scotland in as many days after the Grey speech. These meetings were large ly attended by Scotchmen, and at every gathering I found the keenest desire to know if could tell them anything as to what Ireland's attitude might be in the face of any proposal to have an arbtra- ton treaty with the United States. In the Synod hall, Edinburg, an audience of two thousand Scots and 1rishmen cheered to the echo a statement that the RTdnIlI1B or fOile Iulo WOulu Do du iih- mense stride. towards the peace of the world and the substitution of arbitration for war in the settlement of internation- al disputes. As to the interest In Scot land on this question of arbitration for war in the settlement of International disputes. As to the interest in Scotland on this question of arbitration there can be very little doubt and 1t was said to me over and over again that the great act ooo fnlf what the position of Ireland was likely to be In the matter.
 Perhaps there may also be some de- sire in England to hear an Irish view up- on the question Let me therefore, speak ing as an individual Irish member say what occurs to my mind in connection with Sir Edward Grey's most remarka- ble declaration. In the first place may say I have some knowledge of Irish feeling in the United States, having been there on six separate occasions on ex- tended speaking tours, which covered the country from the Atlantic to the Pacif- ic No man who has had an experience such as this can doubt for single mo- ment the immense Influence of the Irish population of the States From the war of independence, when large numbers of Irishmen fought in Washlngton's army, down to the present day, the Irish have Hooked to America in such large num- hers that now 1t is not an exaggeration to say that fully one-fourth of the pop ulaton of the great Republic ia compos- ed of men and women of Irish blood. Their influence and power Is enormous, and very we'll appropriated by American politicians of all parties. That the in- fulence of Irish America has been in the past distinctly hostile to Great Britain must be admitted in all honesty. The government of Ireland, and more partic- ularly the land laws, drove the Irish, generation after generation across the Atlantic with feelings of bitter enmity to England In their hearts. The American born children of these exiles from Ire land inherited these bitter feelings. On many occasions the strong anti-British feeling of Irish America was notably made manifest Once serious attempt was foied by the influence Of Irish America. Last year, to go on further back, thirty-two thousand people left Ire land the vast majority of whom went to the United States. and brought with them a strong feeling of resentment to- wards Britain because of the system of government maintained in Ireland. These are facts which are beyond dispute. No one with any knowledge of affairs in America can deny them.
 What, then, Is likely to be the atti- tude of Irish America in the face of the revrarl,able situation created by the speeches of President Taft and Sir Ed ward Grey Speaking, as I say, for my self alone, and basing my opinion on my own experiences in America, do not hesitate to say that as public opin- ion. in Ireland has been wonderfully changed towards Britain by the pros- pect of immediate home rule, so do be- iieve amongst Irish Americans the same change has taken place. If coercion were in force in Ireland, and If instead of