Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-12

SUPPORT BILL FOR
ENJOYS TO ireland
Advocates of Irish Freedom
Urge Its Passage to House
Committee.

| Advocates of freedom Of ireland.
headed by Justice John F. Cohalan Of
THE New York supreme court. came
before the House foreign affairs COM
mittee today and urged passage Of
a bill by Representative Mason, re-
publican. Illinois, to authorize ap-
pointment Of diplomatic and, consular
representatives to the republic of
| Ireland.
| In the delegation were Frank P.
Walsh Of Kansas City. Bourke Cock
ran of New York and others who
| have been active in seeking diplo-
! matte recognition of the insurgent
Irish government. II had been re-
ported that Eamonn De Valera. pres
ident of the unrecognized government
would appear at the hearing, but ad-
vocates of the bill announced he
| would not be present.
! When the hearing opened George l..
| Fox of New Haven. Conn.,. asked per-
against the bill, and Chairman Porter
said the opportunity would be given
In an argument for hi. measure,
Representative Mason said it would
not constitute a complete recognition.
ness of Congress to do its part to
that end. He also argued that passage
of the bill would not be q c1Ase for
war with Great Britain.
Cheers and Laughter.
The hearing was not very old before
enthusiasm broke the bonds of con-
gressional decorum. and the crowded
| committee room rocked with cheers
and laughter at the sallies Of the
speakers. Justice Gohaian told the
committee. that his delegation spoke
for the majority Of 100000 Ameri-
ing in behalf of government which
was well organized and firmly sup
ported by it's constituents. He pic
| tured conditions in Ireland, and said
founded upon force only. BY vote Of
100000 to 30S.000. he declared. the
| Irish voters had settled the question
of their preference in favor Of an in
dependent republic.
Questions Judges Statement.
The republican government In Ire
land. Justice Cohalan declared, was
functioning in many important mat
tiers and rightly could be considered
| a de facto government. Chairman
Porter questioned this statement and
suggested that the British and not
the Irish authorities were. in fact. in
possession.
Recognition of Irish independence,
the speaker also argued, was neces
sary to, destroy "navalisn," and to
the success Of any plan for permanent
peace. He argued that British states
men always had held domination OF
Ireland to be necessary to mainte-
nance of British sea power. the po-
| Mentality of which he sought to Illus
| trate by asking what means the Unit
| ed States would have taken to bring
President Wilson home from Europe
| last summer If the British had de-
cided not to let him come.
Asks Meaning Of SugEestio..
! do you mean; to suggest" asked
Representative Newton. republican.
Minnesota, that the United States
would not have brought him back?'
"Oh, undoubtedly we would, eventu-
| ally" replied the witness.
| Representative Connally. democrat.
Texas, asked Justice Cohalan whether
he would be in favor of the United
States going to war with Great Bril-
| tain in case the latter took serious
offense at the passage Of the Mason
! bill.
Eyes, under those circumstances"
replied the justice, while the crowd
| cheered.