The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-21
HOPE OF IRISH FREEDOM LIES
 IN LEAGUE
Covenant Guarantees Rights
 of Small Nations.
HOPE OF IRISH-
 (From the Connecticut Branch of the League to Enforce Pcacc-)

oA thiC 1~-0EsoS rO A >~>NS''
 Why are the friends of Ireland in America unfriend1y to the League of Nations? Ireland, from the begin ming of the war, has clamored for the rights of small countries. Irish men, in common with Americans, have constantly protested against the old, evil system of imperialism whereby grab and hold" has been the law of the world. There must be some inner reason for their antagon- ism, for in the peace treaty it is only the Covenant of the League that gives hope of a new order in which these principles may be firmly up held.
 There Is reason. Irishmen and Irish Americans believe that the Co., Venant provides for an English League" inspired by Englishmen for their own profit. They believe that it gives too much power to the British Empire. They believe that by Article x, which pledges us to keep Europe as 1t is, all hope for a free Ireland is cut away. If this is true, then every American IriShman will vote against the League of Nations.
 But is it true? The Covenant seems to have been chiefly drawn by Gen eral Shuts, a Boer and a member of a small nation, by Leon Bourgeois, q Frenchman, and by President Wilson. Little English influence can be found in 1t except the decision that action can be only by unanimous vote, which certainly does not give Eng land the power to do what she will English Tories, enemies of Irish lib erty, are enemies also of the League; the British Labor Party, which favors T.zs- ports 1t. And finally Article x Is ex- pressly defined having reference to external aggression only. If Ireland moves for seIf-termination, or Sicily for independence, the League will have no power to say stop
 There must be deeper causes for Irish opposition than these misunder- standings; and there are Irish lead CTS distrust any action in which Eng land has a part. They see in the League only an alliance between Great Britain and America in which Ireland. as always, will get the little end of the horn, if not the toe of the slipper. They think that Ireland's best chance for freedom lies in en- mity, not friendship, between Great Britain and America, precisely as some Sim Fein leaders in war time thought that the conflict between England and Germany was Ireland's opportunity.
 American Irishmen, for all their sympathy with Ireland, condemned that wartime attitude of Sim Fein. And when they have thought the matter out. they will condemn those Irish leaders of the present who are willing to destroy good will between nations for a dou ubtful gain
 I,;., Ireland free. An Irish republic, if one should be put into actual opera ton, would have only two possible chances of continued existence; de- fensive alliance with the United States, which would mean inevitably war with Great Britain; or the guar antee of a League of Nations. Re- bellfon, supported by us, as it would have to be in order to be success ful, is not the means to self-deter- imitation which Americans, who have just fought side by side with British armies, will favor. The cause of Ireland is close to our hearts, but we are sane; we will not set the world on fire a second time in order to im- prove Irish government, even if there is no other way. But there Is another way. Ireland's best hope lies in her own efforts, seconded in League of Nations where the votes of the self governing colonies and America, all friendly to Ireland, may mean vic tory or defeat for a British ministry in it's international affairs. By prin- ciple and by interest, Ireland and Irish Americans should be for the League of Nations.
 It is easy 10 excite 9 crowd by shouting Down with the tyrant Eng har I of and set Ireland free" But when Irish Americans consider the facts. at home and quietly, what will they vote?