Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-09-19
IRELAND may PUT
CASE TO LEAGUE
WILSON SUGGESTS ARTICLE XII
COVERS STATUS OF ERiN'S
CLAIMS.
LABOR MAKES QUERIES
President In San Francisco Says Con-
ference Dealt Only With Lands Be-
longing to Empire Conquered BY
Allies.
-.-- l4A. ~~------. s.rss ss-,s--- :,

sAs< E-xs Ss-----z-S SSHkkS
Aboard President Wilson'S Special
Train.-Just before President Wilson
arrived in San Francisco on his tour
of the country in behalf Of the League
of Nations, there came an opportunity
for him to answer vital question
concerning which his political friends,
as well as his political foemen, have
lately been increasingly insistent. The
question was, How about Irelanj?"
The President made certain replies to
Il series of heterogeneous dealing with
that problem, prOpOunded to him by
the San Francisco Labor Council AMI
now the whole Pacific coast is eagerly
discussing his responses and what
they meant.
The queries were sent to Mr. Wits a
by telegraph as this train was rolling
through the Sacramento Valley and
his explanations were made as soon rs
he reached the metropolis of the Pact
tic coast.
Question No. l was: "Under the COW
enant does this nation Obligate itself
to assist any member of the league in
putting down rebellion Of its sub
jects or conquered peoplew Obvious
ly this meant: "Are we obliged to
help England put down Irish revolu.
tiOns?"
The answer was: 'Tt does not"
Friends of Ireland took this to
mean: "We will not
Question No. 2, "Under the Covenant
can this nation independently recOg-
nize government whose people seek
to achieve or have achieved their in
dependence from member of the
League?" In other words, this meant:
"Can we recognize Irelands claim to
being republic?"
The President replied: 1.-THE indie
pendent action Of the United States in
a matter of this kind is in no way linn
tied or affected by the covenant of the
League Of Nations" In other words:
"We can recognize Ireland if and
when the proper time comes without
regard to the League"
Question No. 3: "Under the cove
nant are those subject nations or peo-
pies only that are mentioned in the
Peace Treaty entitled to the right Of
self-determinatiOn, or does the League
possess the right to accord similar
privilege to other subject nations or
peoples?" This meant, for example,
"Why Poland and not Ireland?"
Answer: ut was not possible for
the Peace conference to act with re-
gard to the self-determination vf any
territories except those which belong
ed to the defeated empires; but in The
covenant. Article XI is set up for the
first time a forum to which all claims
of Self-determination which are likely
to disturb the peace of the world Or
the good understanding between ma
tons can be brought"
The section Of Article XI to which
President Wilson refers reads as fol-
lows: 1T is declared to be the friend
ly right of each member of the league
to bring to the attention of the assem-
bly, o. council any circumstances what
ever affecting international relations
which threatens to disturb interna-
tional peace or the good understand
ing upon which peace depends" Some
persons interested in the Irish prob
lem declare that this provision does
Ireland no good, since she is not
member of the league, but President
Wilson's personal contention is that
ireland can complain of any "circum-
stance" she objects to, inasmuch as she
is part of England, which is, Of course,
member"
Question No. 4: "Why was the case
Of Ireland not heard at the peace con-
ference, and what is your position
on the subject Of self-determination for
IrelandT'
Answer "The case of Ireland was
not heard at the peace conference be-
cause the peace conference had no
jurisdiction over any question of that
sort which did not affect territories
which belong to the defeated empires.
My position on the subject of self-de-
termination for Ireland is expressed
In Article NJ of the covenant in which
l was particularly interested because
it seemed to me necessary that a
forum should be created to which all
peoples could bring any matter which
was likely to affect the peace and free
dom of the world"
By those who are accompanying him,
1t is known that the President believes
that Ireland can bring her case before
the league for settlement, when the
league is actually in existence, for re-
peatedly he has said in his speeches
that under Article NJ the smallest and
weakest Of peoples might have as
much attention from the league as the
greatest In fact it might be said that
Article N is Mr.. Wilson's pet" clause
In the league covenant.
Tt was intended by the President
that some tins during his stay on the
Pacific coast, which is, Of course, vital
ly interested in Japanese affairs, he
should discuss more intimately than
ever the question Of the return to
China by Japan Of the Shantung terri
tory awarded to the empire Of the
Mikadn hy q secret treaty with Enr.