Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-05-19
IRISH CLAIMS To
RECOGNITION LAID
BEFORE COUNCIL
Claims to Be Nation Which
Has Exercised Right of Self
Determination in Harmony
With Wilson's Doctrine,
tAssociatrd Pres. Correspondence.

ASSOCIATED Press COrrespoudanrpl
Paris, April 20--Here are the claims
Of the PROVING al Government of the
Irish Republic" to the right 10 parti-
cipate in the peace conference and to
join the league of nations, as free ANA
independent laid before the confer
ence in the form of a memorial pre-
sented to Premier Clemenceau by
Sean T. O'Ceallaigh, the Sim Fein
delegate of the republic" in Paris,
Ireland is a nation which has ex-
ercised the light of self-determina-
ton in harmony with the principles
formulated by President Wilson. and
accepted by the belligerents as the
only sure foundation for worll
peace, read the memorial. at is not
only in the past that Ireland, genera
ton after generation, has str,ven by
force of arms as well as by all pacific
means to regain her national freedom
AT the general election last December.
the issue and the only issue, placed
before the Irish people was the indie
pendence of their country. and by a
majority of more than three to ona
the representatives elected by the cor
stitutional machinery, of the ballot box
are pledged to the abolition of Eng
lish rule in Ireland,
In none of the small nationalities
with which the peace conference has
hitherto occupied itself is the unani-
nifty of the people so great: in none
has the national desire for freedom
been asserted so unmistakab'y and
With as much emphasis.
Republic Constituted
Follow ne upon the general cleo
nm IRtg in,, Ia. l.,
met an Irish repubic mas been con-
stitltted and proclaimed to the world;
a president has been appointed ana
with him ministers to direct different
departments of state; a program of
domestic policy has been issued: and
an appeal has been addressed to the
nations of the world to recognize the
free Irish state that has thus been re-
called to life.
But while the national will has
heen declared and the mechanism of
free government is ready, the former
is being stifled and the latter para
lyZed by England's ruthless exercise
of military mower. The president is n
fugitive; the Irish parliament is
forced TO conduct its bus ness in Sc
cret the most elementary civil rights
are abrogated; courts martial are sit
ting at every center; and the goals ara
fillel with prisoners, victims of every
brutality and indignity, whose only
offense is that they have sought the
freedom of their native land. It is in
these circumstances that the Irish ma
ton, through me, addresses the peace
conference.
ireland manifestly comes within
the scope of the principles that have
been endorsed by civilized nations, and
it is for the application of these prin-
ciples that the peace conference is
now sitting. Ireland Is weak; Eng
land is strong. ireland in every pos
sible way has asserted her right to
freedom, which England by sheer mil
itarism, is intent now as always in the
past to destroy. 1t is only by the eN-
ercfse of tyrannical power that Ire
lands right to freedom can be de-
MED. II Is to the great principle of
national freedom represented in the
peace conference, that ireland eX-
hausted by the crueties of English
rule, her population annihilated by
one half within living memory. her
industries destroyed, her natural re-
sources wasted, her civil liberties enc
ed, her chosen leaders prescribed and
treated as felons, now makes Ter APP
peal.
Appeals to Article Ten.
Article Ten of the draft covenant
of the league of nations is framed to
secure national independence against
aggression of an external power. 1t
terms are as follows:
The high contracting powers I'M
dertake to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political
independence of all states members
of the league. In case of any such
aggression the executive council shall
advise upon the means by which this
obligation shall be fulfilled
ireland. as nation that has de-
clared it's independence and is pledged
to the principles of freedom, justice
and peace, desires to subscribe to the
covenant of the league and to claim
as against England the protection OF
Article Ten.
IT submit to the conference With
profound respect that Irsiand's claim
Is clear and cannot with any shadow
of justice be refused. Should it he
rejected the consequences would be
as follows:
"1-.Ireland henceforth must relv
for her delverance wholly upon her
own efforts No such rule has been
laid down with regard to any other of
the smaller nationalities whose eman-