El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-31
IRISH PROBLEM IS FOR BRITAIN,
NOT PRESIDENT WILSON, TO SOLVE

THAT motion in parliament by John Dillon, Irish Ma
tOnslst leader, that the problem Of settlement be-
tween England and Ireland be submitted to president
Wilson, is compliment to president Wilson, but I'M
pra.tcsbe
IN arguing the milton NJ Dillon informed the house
Of that mo in Ireland believes in any pledge
Of the British government that the government would
stok any policy whatever" If the Irish leader, IN the
warmth Of his argument did not grossly exaggerate, OF
II his statement approximately true, II means the
existence Of want of confidence between Ireland and
England that Americans had hardly dreamed Of
Nor is a want Of confidence on the part Of ireland
entirely unjusted One does not need to back through
the years Of Ieands strained relations with England for
illustration It has been months since premier Lloyd
George announced in parliament that basis had been
found for arranging future relations with Ireland by
granting generous measure Of home rule This IN
connection with statement Of the findings Of the Irish
convention which drew up program Of home rule including
IN iIish permanent ana pafual sehere OF taxation Al
the same time the premier announced plan for forcing
CONSUMPTION ireland.
The CONSUMPTION plan embittered the I1ish although
they ought have realized that the against Germany
much their Englands Americas, but there
Is Hothng to indicate that it turned them unit against
the home rule plan There still remains important
faction in Ireland which opposed rule One of
The difficulties IN trying settle the Irish problem
been that the Irish people have not been able to agree on
any plan Nevertheless, since it appears that probable
majority Of the Irish favor kind of self government
the British national administration ought have gone
ahead and proclaimed the home rule plan in effect and
should have cooperated with the Irish home rulers put
IL IN effect Nothing Of that done In fact
nothing Of any sort has been done The home rule plan
put In effect and CONSUMPTION has not been en-
forced Thus two pledges stand uufulfilled.
i IS a constant embarrassment TO Great Britain, IN
standing the defender Of small nationates to re-
minded Of Ireland, apathetic and rebeous to the
point where one faction has actually gone far to
foster German enterprises against Great Britain Naturally
then the British government ought 10 do everything pos
sbe 70 the friction between the government and
Ireland, seeking thus to eliminate the Irish apathy
rebeious spirit The Irish malady ought BY
Great Britain pathological rather than criminal It is
rot too much 10 say that the Sim Feiners who Up
arms against Great Britain and conspired with Germany
for the overthrow Of the British government deserved their
fate bit il is evident that such cauerzation
are Dct 10 be prescribed for the greater Irish
illness
But 1t Is for Great Britain and the United States
10 deal with Ireland II that owing to the Irish
suspicion Of everything that from England and
owing also TO the Irish confidence in everything that
etes from Washington it would be for president
Wilson 70 outline acceptable settlement than for Eng
and 10 DO So Both sides would have confidence in the
leaztor which is very essential preliminary TO uego-
uaons Of that character They regard president Wilson
as product Of American democracy sincere and COZ
scen0us exponent Of world democracy as determined
champion Of the rights Of small peoples as fair and in
tegent nan who may be relied upon give both sides
square deal
But assuming that president Wilson would consent TO
BE- arbitrator between Ireland and Britain and SUD
posing he had the tine undertake and carry through 50
large task the fact would remain that after settle