The sun., 1919-05-12
IRELAND PRESENTS
CLAIM FOR FREEDOM
Independence Plea Is Based on
Tenth Point Of League
Covenant.
BRITISH RULE ASSAILED
Should Words Be Ignored
Erin Will Seek Deliver
ance in Own Way.
By the Associated Prcss.

By the Associated Prcss.
PARIS, April 20 Correspondence. -
Here are the claims Of the provisional
Government Of the Irish Republic to
the right to participate in the Peace
Conference and to Join the League OF
Nations as free and independent, laid
before the conference in the form of a
memorial presented to Premier Clemen-
ceau by Sean T. O'Ceallaigh, the Sim
Fein delegate of the Republic in Paris
ireland is a nation which has exer-
cised the right of self-determination in
harmony with the principles formulated
by president Wilson and accepted by
the belligerents as the only sure foun-
dation for world peace" reads the
memorial. 1T is not only In the past
that ireland, generation after genera
ton, has striven by force Of arms as
well as by 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 majority OF more than
three to one the Representatives elected
ny the constitutional machinery of the
ballot box were pledged to the abolition
OF English rule in Ireland.
In none of the small nationalitie
with which the Peace Conference has
hitherto occupied itself Is the unanimity
OF the people so great; in none has the
national desire for freedom been asserted
30 Enthusiastically and with so much en-
phasis.
FOLLOWING upon the general election,
an Irish National Assembly has met ; an
irish republic has been constituted and
proclaimed to the world q President has
been appointed and with him Ministers
to direct different departments Of state (;
a programme of domestic policy has
been issued, and an appeal has been ad :
dressed 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 gov
eminent is ready the former is being
stined and the latter paraiyzed by Eng
lands ruthless exercise OF military
power. Tho President is a fugitive; the
Irish Parliament is forced to conduct its
business In secret; the most elementary
civil rights are abrogated; courts-mRr-
tai are sitting at every centre, and the
5ails are filled with prisoners, victims OF
every brutality and indignity, whose only
offence is that they have sought the free
dom of their native land. 1t Is in these
circumstances that the Irish nation.
through me, addresses the Peace Con-
ference.
Irish Rights Asserted.
ireland manifestly comes within the
scope OF the principles that have been
indorsed by civilized nations. and 1t is
for the application of these principles
that the Peace Conference is now sit
ting ireland is weak; England IS
strong. Ireland In every possible way
has asserted her right TO freedom, which
England, by sheer militarism, Is Intent
now as always in the past to destroy.
1t Is only by the exercise OF tyrannical
power that Irelands right to freedom
can be denied. 1t is to the great princi-
pie OF national freedom, represented i'm
the Peace Conference, that Ireland, ex.
hausted by the cruelties Of English rule.
her population annihilated by one-half
within living memory, her industries de-
stroyed, her natural resources wasted
her civil liberties ended, her chosen lead
ers prescribed and treated as felons, now
makes her appeal
Article y. of the draft covenant OF
the League of Nations is framed to Sc.
cure national Independence against az
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 integ.
rlty and existing political independe nee
or all states members OF the league. In
case OF any such aggression the execu.
tive council shall advise upon the mean,
by which this obligation shall be full.
filed
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 coyen.
ant or the league and to claim as agains,
england the protection of Article X
| submit to tho conference with pro.
found respect that Ireland's claim 1.
clear and cannot with any shadow n,
| Justice be refused. Should Il be re.
1ected the consequences would be as foi.
| lows:
| 1.-Ireland henceforth must rely fol
her deliverance wholly upon her owr
erorts. No such rule has been laic
down with regard to any other of tn,
smaller nationalities whose emancipa
| ton has been made the care OF the con
| ference,
"2-Nations which never have denied
the right OF Ireland TO freedom will de-
prive themselves for the future of IN,
| power Of countenancing her claim, ant
will in consequence be bound, for tn,
hrst time in history. to leave her un
aided to her own resources as indicated
in the preceding paragraph.
| "3-Article y. will impose upon al
nations as condition OF membershi,
OF the league, the obligation 10 gurante,
to Great Britain a title to the possession
OF Ireland and the dominion over tn,
| Irish people