Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-09
NAT|ONAL|sTs APPEAL
TO IRISH IN AMERICA
Manifesto Declares Constitutions
Movement Can BE Saved Only
by Hard Work.
COPY WILL BE SENT TO WILSON
Asks Influence to Induce British Gov
crnment to Grant Homo isule-At-
titude OF Premier Lloyd George
Declared to BE Breach Of Faith.
NV Associated Press,

tBy Associated Presa.l
LONDON, March S-A manifesto
issued to-day by the Nationalists says
be saved. but only by the active as
sistancc or all lcvel-hcnded Nationalists
in Ireland, and especially the millions
OF the Irish race I'm the doninions and
in the United States
ITO them We appeal" says the mani
festo, promptly TO use all means in
their power To induce the British gov
ornIncnt TO deal with ireland in accord
ance with tho principles for which
they are lighting IN Europe. We
especially appeal to America in this
connection. with the view TO tie appli-
cation to ireland of the great Drin-
ciples 80 clearly and splendidly enun-
ciated in President Wilson's address
to the Senate"
The manifesto contains the declara-
ton that the attitude adopted by Pre-
micr Lloyd George In the course OF yes
terday's debate In the House Of Com
mons shows an entire change Of posi-
ton on the Ulster question and the
home rule question generally. and a a
breach OF faith with the Irish party
and the Irish nation.
The Na,ionalists decided to send the
manifesto to President Wilson and the
Prcmicrs OF the British dominions.
WOULD FOREVER DENY
HOME RULE TO IRELAND
The text Of the Nationalist mani
festo Is az follows:
1.-THE Premier. in his speech ycster-
day in the debate on home rule. took
up proposition which. IL adhered to.
would involve denial Of sclf-gnvern-
ncnt 10 Ireland forever He laid down
the principles that tho small minority
in Northeast Ulster should have the
veto so long as they chose To exercise
~jt of sclf-Eovcrnmcn for united Ire
land. Tina, is u position 10 which the
representatives of ireland can never
assent.
changed his position on the so-calicd
coercion Of Ulster. That ~ not true.
lie was = party 10 the drafting Of the
original home rule hill which applied
10 All ireland. He was a party To the
rejection in two successive sessions, in
the face Of most vigorous protest
from representative Of Northen I
Ulster, OF amendments To exclude
Ulster, and, when under pressure of
threatened rebellion. he and the gov
eminent, Of which he WAS member,
weakly yielded 10 tho threats az re-
hellion hurled at them ny Sir Edward
Carson. the present Firs, Lord Of the
Admiralty.
WE'RE NEVER 10 III: ASKED
ron EUItTfIER CONCESSIONS
Tho government Of that day. through
The present pGilnc Minister, Appealed
10 us 10 consent TO liz" concession 81
county option FOR a strictly Unite d
period. We agreed, Oh the pledge, re-
pcateily given by MIR. Lloyd George on
his own behalf and on behalf Of tho
government, that IL we consented TO
this concession wo should never be
asked for any further concessions. aud
that the government would undcrta Ike
- sec the settlement through AT any
cost. How. then, can Premier Lloyd
George say that he never changed his
attitude on the question Of Ulster
The manifesto sets forth that tn"
negotiations undertaken ut the request
OF tho government last Luiy referred TO
II strictly war arrangement, with The
understanding that u year after the
ending OF the war things would revert
TO the status quo ante. and that the
night showed a total change on the
Ulster question. and generally on The
question OF home rule for Ireland. aud
Il breach of faith TO tie Irish party and
nation. and would tend 10 intensity
dlstrust of pledges of British ministers
and have serious effect in strengthens
Ing the power OF the revolutionary
movement IN that country.
In view Of the terrible seriousness
Of tho situation for ireland aud Ink
empire created by this speech Of the
Prime Minister" the manifesto con-
tinues, I'VE felt il would be idle 10 pro-
long the debate, and felt bound to
mark in the most emphatic methods
open TO US our sense of the gravity OF
tho situation, and meet Immediately
for consultation as to the future policy
of the Irish Nationalist party"