The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-21
RII|AN'S ECONOMIC
0hTR0L over IRELAND
By william j. Butler.

Paris, July 2o.--The question OF
Engiand's economic control and in
S6mEtrtal suzerainty over Ireland is the
stNA1 issue in today's phase OF the old
eRrnxgle between Ireland and Britain.
gdec1ares John A. Murphy. OF Buffalo.
ssfse Irish-An erican commissioner in
Paris
Religious and racial preiudices are
not AT the bottom Of it" said the rep
of the millie/s of the
Il Irish race In America to Universal
6ervfce today.
III the Irish could stretch out their
hands to the English on the basis OF
ssQualfty," he added, 'fhere would be
mo warmer friends in the world, be-
G10aest OF all ties-mutual economic
46rantages
Such is the power of British finance
sdn Ireland over banks, over railroad
&44riffs and over all other internal and
NCOnomic forces that make or mar in
& Austriai activity. that railroad tariffs
IRE 20 arranged that it is cheaper to
@ANnd goods from some parts of Ire
Slandto Liverpool and back than to pay
the local tariff from point - point
I'm ireland over distances of less than
& 0ne-sifth OF that TO Liverpool.
Answering question regarding the
n British claim ifSt Ireland is really a
n heavy financial burden to Great Brit
Y AIN. Mr. Murphy said the net gain to
Britain from Ireland through taxes
y n1urped profits. etc, will total approx
Il ynateiy $4,000. 900 annually and pro-
N ce4ded to prove 1t.
The commerce of Ireland with
II 9rtfain in 1915" he said, amounted
II M approximately sss2 900. 600, where
@#18 the commerce OF Ireland with the
AReet OF the world was less than five per
Edent OF that amount II will there
a Aore be seen that 95 per cent of Ire
S14nd'n trade is through British hands
md with Britain controlling SO pei
NEAnt Of her trade. Ireland In forced ia
n 1nb3ect her commerce to her prices
a&o4 by Britain withou1 privilege Of
n GeAklng the markets of the world iH
Which 10 buy and sell with freedom.
This liz a disadvantage TO Ireland OF
S@&t least ! 5 per cent on every dollar OF
SHkAde and is worth to Britain not less
Ahan 3135. 100000 year in materia
nd hard cash.
Ri The tax relations between Irelane
&San1 Britain Is another point in III,
4 e6nxroversy which has been grossly
k1nrepresented in British propaganda
ii briefly, IL has been al
&G<5Qd that Ireland does not pay its own
#%xH IN taxes. whereas the Childer com
a 46naon, appointed by the British gov
lament. after two years investiga-
x0a. reported that in each year from
m adoption of the act OF union In
&46e. up 10 that time. 1884 ireland
&4 paid in over taxation not less than
E&x4k.0OO. 900. That body recommend
&R* fead justment of the taxation or
nj basis. but readjustment was USE
ssIn seventy years the population
q wealth of Britain has increased
Nny fold, whereas OF all European
Mona, ireland alone. under the In
ace OF British rule, has had 1t,
<Ru1Ation decimated, reduced, II
~ almost SO per cent OF what i
NJ III 1645.
IN the black years Of famine. wher
3alion and a quarter Irish peasants
03 starvation, famine and fever
H}kofder to pay the landlords racl
N. more food was exported from
&1na0 to Britain than would hav,
Hn1ned in plenty the entire popula
IN ireland. amounting to abou
ana one-half millions.
8E&da 10 the commercial SLAYER,
S1nSf which ireland il now mos
nentiy rebeIling. The struggl
%2SkA seventies was to keep food IL
1tpsnachs and roofs over the head
a@hn irish peasants and their fami
The struggle of the land leagu
eighties was to obtain fai