The Irish standard., 1918-12-07
Independence Of
ireland Urged
President Wilson Petitioned to Uphold
Ireland's Cause at Peace
Conference.

A meeting of the Archbishops of
the country is reported to have
been held in Chicago recently.
The fact that a conference took
place was not reported through
the regular news channels, and
the result of the deliberations of
the prelates has not been made
public. 1t is believed, however,
that the Irish question was dis
cussed at length and that some
definite plan of action to present
Ireland's claim to self-government
was decided upon. ....
Throughout the country the de-
mand for the freedom of Ireland is
finding expression since the conclu
sion of the armistice. The friends OF
Ireland maintain that an equitable
solution of the problem must be found
at the forthcoming peace conference
and they are importuning President
Wilson to use his influence to the end
that justice may at last be granted the
oppressed people.
In the past the Catholic hierarchy
has not hesitated to point out that the
case of Ireland does not differ from
that Of the other small nations of
Europe, whose liberation has now
been accomplished by the United
States. 1t is contended that Presi-
dent Wilson's declaration regarding
the self-determination Of small ma
tions, which is embodied in his four
teen peace terms is applicable also
to Ireland, and that upon this basis
a just solution of the Irish problem
can be found.
A petition, signed by the Arch
bishop and every priest of the Arch
diocese of San Francisco, has been
forwarded to President Wilson, ask
ing that Ireland's right to independ-
ence be considered at the peace con-
ference.
The petition follows:
"To His Excellency, the Honorable
Woodrow Wilson, President of the
United States Of America, from the
following priests of the Roman Cath
olic Archdiocese of San Francisco,
California, whose names are hereunto
signed, a petition:
''That whereas, the people of the
United States have in accordance
with the constitutional laws of the
said United States entered in this
World War; .
"And whereas, our President COM
mander-in-chief Of the forces Of these
United States, has declared that our
object is not territorial aggrandize-
ment, or the maintenance of secret
or the old struggle for the
balance of power so-called, but the
self-determination Of small as we'll as
great nations:
Therefore, we as here below signed
as American citizens in accordance
with our constitutional rights, petit
ton His Excellency the President to
use the unique position of the United
States at this conjuncture to the end
that:
"The claims of Ireland to be free
and Independent nation in the fellow
ship of nations shall be acknowledged
by the United States;
And that the place of Ireland,
Congress may gather to
agree on the future on the people, may
be assured by the influence of the
United States in such measure that
Ireland may stand in equal condition
with Poland and Serbia and all the
wronged nations of the world"
Similar. petitions are now being
III many dioceses of the
country, while series of mass meet
ings to present Ireland's claims to the
American public will be held early in
December in all large cities by the
friends of Irish Freedom.