The Irish standard., 1919-09-20
STATUS OF IRELAND IS
Interpreted BY WILSON
Article xi., He States, Provides
Forum for the Hearing Of
Irish Grievances.
The jurisdiction of the Peace Confer
ence Being Confined to Territories
of the Enemy-6arred consid-
Grafton of lreland's
Demands.

Grafton of lreland's
Demands.
San Francisco, Sept. 17.-Setting
forth publicly for the first time his in
depreciation of the League of Nations
covenant as it affects Ireland, Presi-
dent Wilson said in a statement that
the league would constitute a forum
before which could be brought all
claims for self-determination which
are likely to affect the peace of the
world.
Welcomed by the noise of cheers,
steam whistles and sirens, President
Wilson arrived in San Francisco at
$3.50 a. m.
"The covenant would not bind the
United States to assist in putting down
rebellion in any foreign country" he
asserted, nor would it limit the power
of this country to recognize the inde-
pendence of any people who seek to
secure freedom" He said Ireland's
case was not heard at Versailles be-
cause it did not come within the juris-
diction of the peace conference.
The presidents statement was in re-
ply to series of questions sent to him
by the San Francisco Labor Council.
1t is understood that within few days
he will reply similarly to questions put
by other labor bodies regarding Shan
tung and the representation of the
British dominions in the league assem-
bly,.
Replying directly to a question as to
his attitude toward se!f-determinatioc
for Ireland, Mr.. Wilson said his posi-
tion was expressed in Article XI of the
covenant, under which it is declared
"any member nation can call the atten-
ton of the league to any circumstance
whatever affecting International rela7
tions which threaten to disturb inter-
national peace or the good understand
ing between nations upon which peace
depends"
The presidents statement detailing
the labor councils questions and his
answers follow:
1. Under the covenant does the ma
tion obligate itself to assist any men,
Der of the league in putting down a
rebellion of it's subjects or conquered
peoples?
Answer-It does not.
2. Under the covenant can this ma
ton independently recognize a gov
ernment whose people seek to achieve,
or have achieved, their independence
from member of the league?
Answer-The Independent action of
the government of the United States
in a matter Of this kind is in no way
limited or affected by the covenant Of
the League of Nations.
3. Under the covenant are those
subject nations or peoples only that
are mentioned in the peace treaty en-
titled to the right of self-determination
or does the league possess the right
to accord a similar privilege to other
subject nations or peoples?
Answer-It was not possible for the
peace conference to act with regard to
the self-determination of any terri
tories except those which had be-
longed to the defeated empires, but
in the covenant of the League of Ma
tions it was set up for the first time,
in Article XII, a forum to which all
claims of self-determination which
are likely to disturb the peace of the
of the world or the good understand
ing between nations upon which the
peace of the world depends can be
brought.
4. Why was the case of Ireland
not heard at the peace conference, and
what is your position on the subject
of self-determination for Ireland?
Answer-The case of Ireland was
not heard at the peace conference be-
cause the peace conference had no
jurisdiction over any question of that
sort which did not affect territories
which belonged to the defeated en-
pires. My position on the subject is -ex-
self-determination for Ireland is ex-
pressed in Article XII of the covenant
in which l may say was particularly
interested, because it seemed to me
necessary for the peace and freedom
of the world that forum should be
created to which all peoples could
bring any matter which was likely to
affect the peace and freedom of the
world.