South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-19
NO HEARINGS ON
IRISH QUESTION
Chairman Flood Notifies All
Who Have Asked for
Decision.

WASHINGTON, April 19.-No
public hearings are to be given on
the many resolutions introduced in
the house on the Irish question.
Chairman Flood OF the foreign af-
fairs committee Today notified all
those who have asked for hearings
that there will be none because they
would be an interfe renee and an en-
barrassment TO a co-belligerent OF
the United States.
A letter setting forth this decision
has been sent 10 large numbers Of
individuals, organizations and others
who asked for hearings. John J.
Curley, city collector Of Boston was
one Of these Chairman Floods
letter 10 him follows:
Some days ago l received a let
ter from you addressed to me as
chairman of the committee Oh for
eign affairs, in exactly the same
phraseology as a letter sent me OH
March IA by Mrs. Hannah Sheehy
SkefjEgtOn Of Ireland, which letter
was oA6ntn ny lAhAllDEl VI AdNANS
and gentlemen from New York,
Philadelphia and other places. Since
receiving your letter. 1 have received
number of these letters, and will
probably receive many more of
them
I'm your letter you call the atten-
ton of the committee on foreign ar
fairs TO resolutions which have been
introduced in the house of repre-
sentatives, recognizing the political
independence of Ireland, and dealing
with other phases of the Irish ques-
ton. and requesting that a date be
set for a public hearing by the COM
mittee on foreign affairs TO ca
those representatives whose reso-
lutions on the Irish question have
been referred 10 the committee on
foreign affairs for consideration, and
(b) to the representatives of re-
sponsible and patriotic Organiza-
tions OF Americans who have filed
petitions with the speaker of the
house and with the committee in
behalf of those resolutions.
II have given careful considera-
ton TO your communication, and
the other letters Of similar charac-
ter, a well as to the resolutions to
which they refer; and have reached
the conclusion that it would not be
for the public interest, at the pres
ent time. TO grant your request for
such a hearing The serious con-
sideratiOn by the committee on for
eign affairs of these resolutions
might well be considered as consti-
tuting an interference in the internal
affairs of another nation, and that
nation one of our CO. belligerents:
and could scarcely fail TO prove a
source Of serious embarrassment to
a nation associated with the United
States in the war.
Turn Down Request.
ct therefore regret that my sense
of duty, not only to this country.
but also to a nation associated with
the United States in the war. makes
it necessary to give an unfavorable
answer to your request for such a
public hearing"
Congress has been bombarded
with pleas in various forms for ac-
ton on the Irish home rule ques-
ton for many years, and the move
ment Of the Irish organization and
individuals became acute at the last
session Of congress and was renew
ed in the present session.
Speaker Clark. Democratic Lead
-er Kitchin. former Chairman Fitz-
gerald of the appropriations COM
mittee Reps. Gallivan. O'Shaugh-
messy, Rhode Island, Lenroot. Wis
cOnsin Webb. North Carolina, and
approximately 1875 other democratic
and republican members OF the
house. together with the socialist
member. joined in a message which
they cabled on ApriI 2S OF last year.
to Lloyd George. urging settlement
OF the Irish question.
I'VE, as members Of the Ameri-
can congress" they cabled. "sug-
gest that nothing will add more to
the enthusiasm Of America i'm this
war than the settlement now of the
Irish problem. We believe that all
Americans will be deeply stirred
and their enthusiastic effort enlist
ed if the British empire will now
settle this problem IN accordance
with the principles announced by
Pres't Wilson in his address to con-
gress asking it to declare war on
autocracy for the worldwide safety
of democracy and OF small nation
alities"
Irish nationalists at a meeting Of
1000 persons in Buffalo last April,
10 commemorate the first anniver-
Sary of the Irish Caster week. re-
bellion of 1916. and as a memorial
for those executed. adopted resolu-
tiOns which besides pledging sup
port 10 America in the war. request
ed that congress demand of England
that she Immediately declare Ire
lands independence. the psyche
logical effect of which action on the
American soldiers Of Irish birth or
extraction would be apparent, the
resolutions said.
Resolutions calling for action by
congress on the Irish question have
been introduced by Reps. McCor-
mick and Mason OF Illinois. Rankin.
Montana, Cary, Wisconsin. Nc.
Iaughlin and NORM. Pennsylvania,
and others.