The Irish standard., 1919-08-30

tional crisis will be considered a rare
example of how President Wilson in
practise observe his doctrine of open
covenants openly arrived at" 1t is
easy to understand what happened
when the Senate resolution express
ing the sympathy and support of the
Senate for the aims of the Irish peo-
pie in seeking Government of their
own choice, was officially transmitted
to the Peace Conference and how the
British Premier successfully stored it
in a pigeon hole to be secretly buried
and how successful he was in obtain
ing the acQuiescence of President
Wilson in this conspiracy of silence
against the interests of Ireland and
In direct opposition to the expression
of the United States Senate on the
subject. Lloyd George refused to &C.
cept or countenance any interference
in the matter, with the result, that
President Wilson weakly capitulated
and agreed to the English demand to
ignore and deny the Senate's wishes.
President Wilson recognizing that the
publication of this summary rejec-
ton of the Senate resolution would en-
danger the ratification of the treaty
consented to this whole scheme of
secrecy.
The entire Irish question including
the Senate resolution was publicly
turned over to Premier Clemenceau
"for solution" This was done to pla.
cate the senate. A decision having
been already arrived at, what silence
was to be maintained about it, until
after the Senate had ratified the
treaty. The same decision was &C
corded to the Walsh Dunno request
for an international tribunal to in
vestigate the charges of inhumanity
and barbarity charged in their report
against the British authorities in their
present domination by force of the
people of Ireland. The whole scheme
shows not only total disregard by
President Wilson OF the sentiment
expressed in the Senate resolution
but shows his intrigue with European
diplomats to circumvent and defeat it..
1t also bares to the world his weak
desention of his often enunciated lofty
principles for which America entered
the war.
The elections held in ireland last
December, when by practically four
fifth majority of the entire population,
the people of Ireland declared for an
Irish Republic is in the mind of fair
and reasonable men a plebiscite suffi-
cient to squarely test the sincerity of
Americas declarations in favor of
rights of small nationalities to self
determination"
Ireland demands from the Peace
Conference that her Republican form
of government be recognized, that she
be restored to her ancient status as
sovereign state. She demands that
the present English army Of occupa-
ton shall evacuate the land and leave
the people of Ireland undisturbed in
the problem of working out her own
destiny.
Copy Of Letter to M. cIemenceau.
Personal and Urgent.
Paris, July %, 1919.
M. Georges Clemenceau, President Of
the Peace Conference and Premier
Of France, Paris.
Monsieur lie President: We are in
receipt of information from sources of
high authorities that as president of
the Peace Conference, you have noti-
fed American peace plenipotentiaries
that, so far as further consideration
of the Irish question is concerned, the
matter is one in which you will take
no action.
We understand this decision covers:
1. That the resolution of the Amer
lean Senate, officially forwarded to
yOu Wy Lu0 kAuclACdu SO1uAuA65AOA W
Negotiate Peace, and the recommends
tions contained therein expressing
sympathetic support to the people Of
Ireland in their efforts to obtain a
government of their own choice, is,
by this action, denied in manner
suggestive of your entire disregard of
American public opinion as rendered
in the deliberate resolution of our
highest legislative body.
2. That the Peace Conference fur
Their ignores the request of the Hon.
orable Messrs. Walsh and Dunno
for the appointment of an inter-na-
tional tribunal to investigate into the
charges of barbarities and inhuman
conduct, in violation of the rules Of
civilized warfare, perpetrated by the
prit{o1 Eovornmonf fhrOuph ifs milf.