South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-12
HERE ARE CLAIMS
Of IRISH REPUBLIC
Asks Permission to Sit at
Peace Conference and to
Join Leauge.

conference and 20 join the league Of
nations. as free and indeberdent
aid before the conference n the
form Of "A memorial presented 10
Premier Clemenceau 1y Sean T.
~otceallaigh. p Sim Fein deIeEare
OF the republic in Paris.
ireland is "A nation which has
exercised the right OF self-determin-
alton in harmony with the principle
formulated by Pres't Wilson. ana ac-
cepted by the ~bellieerents ass the
only sur foundation for a world
peace read the memorial. n is
not only in the past that ireland.
generation after generation. has.
striven by force OF arms as well as
Oy all pacific means to regain her
national freedom. At the general
election last December. the issue.
and the only issue. placed before the
Irish people was the independence
OF their country. and by a majority
or more than three 10 one the rep
resentatives elected BY the coust.-
tutional machinery OF the ballot box
are pledged 10 the abolition Of Eng
lish rule in Ireland.
People Are Unanimous
In none OF the small nationaIi-
ties with which the peace conference
has hitherto occupied itself is the
unanimity of the people so great, i'm
none has the national desire for.
freedom been asserted so unmistak-
ably and with so much cmphasi.
Following upon the general cleo
tion, an Irish national assembly has
met; an Irish republic a been con-
stituted and proclaimed TO the
world; a president has been ap-
pointed and with him ministers 10
direct different departments Of
state: a program of domestic policy
has been issued: and an appeal has
been addressed to the nations Of the
world to recognize the free Irish
state that has thus been recalled to
life.
But while the national will has
been declared and the mechanism
of free government is ready. the for
mer is being stihed and the latter
p~aralyzed by England's ruthless ex-
ercise OF military power. The presi-
dent Is a fugitive; the Irish parlia-
ment is forced TO conduct its bust
ness in secret; the most elementary
civil rights are abrogated; courts
martial are sitting az every center;
and the gaOls are filled with prison
ers. victims OF every brutality and
ludignity. whose only offence is that
they have sought the freedom of
their native land. 1t is in these cir
cumstances that the Irish nation.
through me. addresses the peace
conference.
ireland Within scope.
ireland manifestly comes within
the scope of the principles that have
been endorsed by civilized nations.
and II is for the application Of these
principles that the peace conference
is now sitting. Ireland is weak;
England is trOng. Ireland in every
possible way has asserted her right
TO freedom, which England. by sheer
m~ilitarism, is intent now as always
in the past. 10 destroy. 1t is only
by the exercise OF tyrannical power
ina Ireland's right TO freedom can
be denied. 1t is 10 the great prin-
cipIe OF national freedom, represent
ed in the peace conference. that Ire
land, exhausted by the cruelties OF
English rule. her population annihi-
AAAE1 ~ OAA1-AAaAA "a 81 ? mem
ory. her industries destroyed. her
natural wasted. her civil
liberties ended. her chosen leaders
prescribed and treated as felons.
now makes her appeal.
Article ten OF the draft
Of the league OF nations is framed
10 secure national independence
against aggression of an external
power. It's terms are as follows:
The high contracting powers
undertake TO respect and preserve as
against external aggression the ter
ritorial integrity and existing po-
litical independence of all states
members of the league. In case OF
any such aggression the executive
council shall advise upon the NEAR
by which this obligation shall be
fulfilled
Has Declared Independence.
ireland. as a nation that has de
clared its independence and is
pledged 10 the principles Of freedom.
Justice and peace. desires 10 sub
scribe to the covenant OF the league
and 10 claim as against England the
protection OF article ten. ] submit
20 the conference with profound re-
spect that Ireland's claim is clear
and cannot with any shadow OF jus
tice be refused. should il be reject
ed the consequences would be as fol-
lows.
IRELAND heuceforth must rely
for her deliverance wholly upon her
own enorts. No such rule has been
laid down with regad TO any other
OF the smaller nationalities whose
emancipation has been made the
care OF the conference.
nations which MAYER have de-
uted the right OF Ireland 20 freedom
viii deprive themselves for the fu-
ture or the power OF -contenancing
her claim. and Will in consequence
be bound. for the nrst time in his
tory. 20 leave her unaided 20 her
own resources as indicated in the
preceding paragraph
Article ten will impose upon
All nations. as a condition OF mem
bership OF the league. the obligation
10 70 Great Britain a title
% the possession OF ireland and do