The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-22

Hat they wanted and were not afraid to
 ay so. though. as it developed. they were .iot wholly clear as to how they were
 going to get it.
 The interview began with state Inent by one of them-an officer of the Slnn Fesn-as to the historic grievances and present wrongs of Ireland. For TOO years Ireland had suffered the abuses ana expressions of England. and it still retained it's unconquerable soul. and ii never would consent to be ruled by the tyrant. There was a great deal more like it.
 Let us all agree" said one of the edi- tors, that everything you say is true about the past and that Ireland has sui Tered much from English misgovernment.
 W hat about the situation todaye"
 .s There is no intrinsic change now in Engiand's position towards Ireland" was the answer. We are unjustly taxed. We are denied our rights. We have no such thins as free speech or individual iib- erty. We are thrown into prison by the hundreds for such triflins misdemeanors as the singing of song which England does not Ike. The Irish coast is a fort ress, and the island is mere garrison TOT 2o0,ooo British soldiers. We are aenied education for our children. We are. or we nave been, the victims of procured fam mes. We are impoverished and miser- aple, We have declined in population. for example from more than s00o.ooo people to little more than 4,oo0.00e. Our indus tiaes languish through discriminatons of many kincs. We do not get justice in the courts. Not long since there was n brutal murder in one of our towns. The keeper or public house had kicked to death an inoffensive woman, with no provoca- t1on He was tried and found guilty. and the judge, appointed by the crown. sen fenced him to imprisonment for 1e months, saying that he was a loyal citi- zen for he had served the empire well bv jealous service in procuring recruits for the army.
 What Is the reason Ireland has given so rew soldiers to the British army ?'
 Because we are not British We are not freemen. We are slaves, or but lit tie better Why should we fight to make Great Britain strong? Britain went to help! Let us have our freedam. and we help? Let us have our freedom, and we can then decide which side in the war to nght But how can slaves make a choice?'
 Are you pro-German
 We are not We are pro-Irish.p Have you not accepted aid from Germany?
 Yes. But we have taken it as we have had help from America or France, or any outsider. But we have incurred no obligations to Germany that we have not incurred to others who are sympathetic and disposed to lend us a hand"
 ROGER EASEMENTS PROJECT
 IS It not true that there was a plan to land arms at an Irish port through Sir Roger Easement? Was he not in the German pay?
 Sir Roger was not In the German employ He was an Irish patriot. He sought assistance against England our enemy, and for Ireland, and he got if. But, unfortunately, his plans miscar- ried, and he was arrested and i'm prisoned. and later executed This was In l916, long before America entered the war. We have had no truck or bargain with Germany since. Though Sir Roger was in British custody. we went ahead with our plans for an up- rising. We fought England and all its power and there were many casual ties, and much loss of life. We have been accused of cowardice Does that look like cowardice? The rebellion failed and our leaders voluntarily sur rendered Great Britain promptly shot to death II of them. One of our partv here was among those sentenced to death but later he was freed Yet. he Is under constant surveillance. and is liable to arrest and Imprisonment or worse at any time. From 400 to 500 Irishmen are now in jail, and all of them for political offenses. Yetwe will not quit"
 Are you aware of the fact that American sympathy for the cause of Irish freedom has declined as a re- sult of Sim Feinisn and the failure of Ireland to play the part in the war America thinks Ireland should play?,
 IT that is so 1t is due to the lying propaganda of England against Ireland. Lord Northcliffe is behind it all. He ipent more British money in an effort Q poison the American mind against reland than he has spent In his anti Ierman propaganda in Germany An American transport was sunk on the rish coast, and lot of American sol- Hers were landed on Irish soil some If them in dying condition. It was widely printed throughout America hat Ireland had treated them inhos- ,itably, refusing to care for them. Lord Sorthcliffe did that"
 It was suggested that they prob i 4bly referred to the loss of the Tus- ania, and the landing of many Amer can troops on the north coast of Ire | and. The editors all assured the Sim 'efners that they had seen in no Ameri- an newspaper any description of the [ went imputing to Ireland a lack of , hospitality or humanity.
 We think America owes us erati- l ude and support" they continued. I've l re rebels against England-so werei 'ou. You were successful; but why? | secause you had so many Irishmen as !, oldiers In your revolution. At least | alf of them were of Irish blood George Washington has said that without them he war for American Independence | would have failed. Now, you tell us hat we have lost Americas sympathy. | here are 20.000, 900 Irishmen in Amer ca. and you will have them to reckon | ith in case you go back on Ireland. | is inconceivable to us that you can Q so. We rely absolutely on President | Wilson and America. President Wilson aid in his speech at the tomb of Wash ngton July 4. 1913:
 "'What we seek is the reign of law ased on the consent of the governed nd sustained by the organized opinion { mankind
 President Wilson is definitely on rec I'd for the elf-determination of small copies. We are small people in recisely the sense that the Jugo- -Slavs nd the Czecho-Slavs are small peo- les. Our distinct racial identity is urther emphasized by tho fact that roland is an island. Geokra phically. historically. the Irish re a race. people, a nation."
 What do you expect President Will Dn to do for vou 90