The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-05-12

sheer miltarism, is intent now as al
ways in the past to destroy. 1t is only
by the exercise of tyrannical power that
Ireland's right to freedom can be denied.
1t is to the great principle of national
freedom, represented in the peace CON
ference, that ireland, exhausted by the
cruelties of English rule, her population
annihilated by onehalf within living
memory, her industries destroyed, her
natural resources wasted, her civil liber-
ties ended, her chosen leaders prescribed
and treated as felons, now makes her APP
peal.
article 10 of the draft covenant of
cure national independence against ag-
gression Of an external power. Its terms
are as follows:
The high contracting powers under
take to respect and preserve as against
external aggression the territorial in
tegrity and existing political independ-
ence of all states members of the league
In case of any such aggression the ex
ecutive council shall advise upon the
means by which this obligation shall be
fulfilled
ireland, as nation that has de-
clared its independence and is pledged
to the principles of freedom, justice and
peace, desires to subscribe to the Gov
enant of the league and to claim as
against England the protection of srti.
Gle TO- | submit to the conference with
profound respect that Ireland's claim is
clear and cannot with any shadow of
justice be refused. Should it be rejected
the consequences would be as follows:
81. Ireland henceforth must rely for
her deliverance wholly upon her own eff
forts. No such rule has been laid down
with regard to any other of the smaller
Municipalities whose emancipation has
been made the care of the conference
~. Nations which never have denied
the right of Ireland to freedom will de-
priye themselves for the future of the
contenancing her claim, and win in con
sequence bel bound, for the first time in
history. to leave her unaided to her own
resources al indicated in the preceding
paragraph.
+" 3. Article 10 will impose on all ma
tions a condition of membership of the
league, the obligation TO Great Britain
a title to theS possession of Ireland and
dominion over the Irish people.
Again the imposition of such slav-
cry upon ireland, and especially against
the giving of such a guarantee OF title
to Great Britain, ] enter on behalf Of the
people Of IreianH in whose name | have
the honor to speak, the most emphatic
protest. Great Britains title to Ire
land rests solely upon the military pow
err of nation to determine the fortunes
of people over whom they have no
right to rule except the right Of force
The combined guarantee OF such title
against the declared protest of Ireland
would constitute Il definite denial of the
principle of Justice to all peoples and
nationalities and their right to live on
equal terms of liberty and safety with
one another, whether strong or weak,
and without the acceptance OF that prin-
cipal no part of the structure of inter-
national Justice dan stand
"The guarantee Sof such title would
be subsersive Of the reign Of law based
upon the consent (pf the governed and
sustained by the organized opinion of
mankind The qua rantee of such IT,
tie would constitute recognition of the
right of the strong DO serve its own ma
terial interest and advantage through
the exercise of it's exterior influence
and mastery The guarantee of such a
title would give Grdat Britain a war
rant to make a natiop weaker than her
self subject to her purposes and inter
ests II would confirm the claim of
Great Britain to rule end dominate the
people of Ireland event in their own in
ternal affairs by arbitrary and irrespon-
sible force Any guarantee, under ar
ticle 10 of territorial integrity and politi-
cal independence as affecting Ireland, can
rightly endure only to thAe benefit of the
people of Ireland thems elves.
'In the name. thereforek of the people
of Ireland ask that thu Irish nation
may be invited to give their adhesion
to the covenant of the eagAe of nations,
and that membership Of the league a
membership available under PARTICLE sew
en- even to colonies who havel freely and
legislatively subscribed TO the supremacy
of the English imperial Pa1liament--
shall not be denied TO the government
of free, independent Irish republic"
---------------