The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-19
BY J. DEVIIN. Cine Young Irish Leader, Member of Parliament from Belfast District.)

ernment, it's Prussian regime in Ire land, enforced by an army of occu- patton larger, than that commanded by Lord French n the retreat from Mons; it's Press censorship, by which it seeks to prevent the truth about Ireland becoming known to the rest of the world; it's campaign of cal umny against Ireland in America and in Europe; it's affection of ignoring the existence of any Irish question, and it's extra ordinary precautions to prevent kindly foreigners, and even Colonials, military and civil, from visiting Ireland-an these have not aVailed to prevent the Irish spectre from haunting the Peace Conference to the confusion of the British dele gates, or to repress the sympathies of America and Europe, of the Colonies and of the nations, large and small, for the Irish people in their demand for elf-determination.
 The Irish difficulty is the creation Of British misgovernment; anG it is the shame of British statesmansnt2 and an incaIculable loss to the Brit ish Empire and to the world that this difficulty remains unsolved. Again and again opportunity has offered for settlement, but British statesman ship has always been found wanting And, today England is face to face with the Irish question once again in a. way that cannot be ignored
 Ireland is one of the most ancient nations of Europe. She is an older nation than any of the little" na- Lons whose claim to self-determina- rton are acknowledged by rhe Peace Conference, and who are of mush- room growth compared with her Her claim for national freedom is as strongly esta blished in justice as that of any nation in existence.
 I think it well to state this much clearly, by way of preface.
 Since the passage of the Act of Union in 1900 Ireland has never ceased to protest against that infamous measure, and to claim the restoration of. her National Parliament and the "i-.1t to control all purely Irish af- fairs. Her claim was 9 constitutional -ne md was urged upon constitution al lines. Now and again, as in 1903, 1S4&, 1857, the protests of Irish na- tiOnaIity found expression in rebel lion. But in spite of famine, eviction, emigration, depopulatiOn, over-taxa- GOn, and all the evils of the worst government that probably the world has eyer known, the great mass of the Irish people persisted in pressing their claim for self-government by constitutional means. But all to no purpose.
 Then Parnen came on the scene, and Gladstone. accepting the verdict of Ireland in 1885, vainIv essayed 2 settlement in 1886, and again 1893 From 1885 down to 1918 at every gen.. craI election Ireland returned five sixths of it's members pledged to Home RuIe-that is, to full seIf-gov- ernment for Ireland within the En- pire.
 In 1914 the Home Rule Act was placed on the Statute Book. After IA years of struggle Ireland had won her constitutional fight for freedom. But because of the threat of armed resist ance on the part of a, minority in Ul- ster the operation of the Act was sus- pended.
 On the outbreak of the war. and be- fore the enactment of the Home Rule Bill. Mir. John Redmond, without making any conditions, pledged Ire lands rapport to the cause of the A lies, ard shortly afterwards, MT. As quith went to Dublin as 'the ambas- sador of EngIand'' to ask Ireland for The free support of a free nation" That support was given voluntarily and ungTudgingly. Lord Kitchener described the response of Ireland as magnificent" Ireland, therefore, kept her faith with England.
 How was it on the other side?
 From the very outset, at the War Office, in the Administration, in the Press, and on the Public platforms every effort was put forth by the op- pOnents of Home Rule to embarass and to thwart MT. Redmond and his .-,..F tn rp Irish cruiting, and to smash any hope of an Irish settlement. Downing-s street and Dublin Castle played into each others hands. It was the combination al ways irresistible for evil in Ireland which destroyed the splendid promise and the fondest hopes of those who, in both countries. were anxious for the reconciliation which, if it had been successfully carried out, would have been 9 blessing to humanity.
 Then came the Rebellion of Easter Week, 1918, and MT. Asquith's second visit to Ireland He returned to Par hament and announced that Dublin Castle rule in Ireland had completely broken down, and that the only thing to do was to put the Home Rule Act in operation. But, instead of the Home Rule Act being put into opera ton, Dublin Castle was re-esta blish- ed in worse form, with larger powers, and all forms of liberty and citizen rights disappeared under the new re- gime of repression and martial law. All the promises made to Ireland were broken, and once again Ireland was shamefully betrayed.
 In 1917 it became necessary to en- list Americas support for the Allies. The Irish question was causing irrita- ton in America. MT. Lloyd George proposed 6 Convention of Irishnlen to draft an Irish Constitution. He called for substantial agreement" He would not accept a majority decision Responsible and patriotic men tried every means possible to effect a set clement. But they got no help from the Government Lack of statesman ship, the pressure of political inter ests. and tactical consideration at Downing street made settlement i'm possible. and again Irish hopes were dashed n the ground.
 The situation wanted courage and vision. buJ both these were wanting in tRe British Cabinet.
 Perhaps AIr. Lloyd George and his friends realise now mere than in 1917 that the settlement of the Irish ques- ton was "a war measure of the first irnportance.' The Allies have won the
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