The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-24
MIR. WILSON ON IRELAND.
Englands Control Of Eight Votes in
tho League Assembly.


To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-sir. Mr..
Wilson's first reaction to the Irish issue
was an effort to laugh II out of court
This attitude he manifested ut the White
! House dinner last March. When the
American Commission on Irish inde-
pendence had the temerity to intrude the
question of peoples liberty into the
deliberations of the land grabbers as
sembled at Versailles, Mr.. Wilson's sole
concern--as Mr. Bullitt has now re-
vealed-was to let the Walsh mission
down easily 30 as not to ALLEVIATE the
| Irish vote in this country The true
meaning Of Mr.. Wilson's League Ia now
plain to the people Of the country. 1t
is based on none Of the liberal principles
enunciated by Mr.. Wilson prior to the
assembling of the Peace Conference. but
Ia simply an alliance OF the great
Powers in which America pledges her
blood and treasure to conserve the gain
OF European and Aslatic empires.
| In an effort 70 win back the support
Of Americans who believe in liberty and
sympathize with the long struggle of
the Irish people. Mr.. Wilson has now
answered certain questions propounded
to him by the San Francisco Labor
Council. It might be remarked here that
these questions bear intrinsic evidence
! of being concocted for the occasion, and
| It is the writer's opinion that they were
put and answ cred 30 as to provide an
| excuse for the Hon. James d. Phelan to
desert the interests of our own land and
the land of his sires in voting for the
Infamous League.
AS to the first two questions 1t is
sufficient to say that they are, simply
men Of straw, erected for Mr.. Wilson to
cast down. No one has suggested that
this nation would obligate itself under
the League TO assist any member Of the
League In putting down a rebellion of
its subjects. Neither has any one sug-
| gested that this nation would be barred
under covenant from recognizing a Gov
| eminent whose people were seeking to
achieve, or had achieved their inde-
pendence from a member OF the League.
In answering the third question, Mr..
Wilson said that It was not possible for
the Peace Conference to grant self-de-
termination to any nation, except those
which had belonged to the defeated en-
pires, but that Article XI. of the League
|
! every people for seH-determination
could be heard, provided the claims were
such as would be likely to disturb the
peace Of the world or the good under
standing between nations.
The Peace Conference extended It's
imperialistic hand over the whole uni
verse, touching financial. Industrial and
social questions everywhere. and 1t
! PASSED upon all questions which It
| wished to settle. If there are any people
whose claims for self-determination were
not heard. 1t was because the gentlemen
sitting around the peace table did not
wish to hear them, and as the same
nations control the League II Is diff
cult to see where any subject people will
be helped by the forum which--Mr. VIII
son says--the League sets up.
In connection with Article XXI. of the
League It is well to note that the article
does not provide how the members of
the League shall act on the questions
raised under that article Therefore
Article v. will apply, which provides as
follows:
Except where otherwise expressly
| provided In this covenant by the
| terms OF this treaty decisions at any
meeting OF the Assembly or of the
Council shall require the agreement OF
all the members of the League repre-
scented at the meeting.
Great Britain will have one vote IN
the Council, while in the Assembly Of
the League her strength-including the
votes of her dominions and colonies
will be six, and adding the votes of
W II. -.
control-gives her a total of eight II
is difficult to see how the cause OF Irish
independence would be advanced In such
a league.
Indeed in one of his speeches last
week the President said that his objec-
tlon to the League was not that II would
do the things men feared II might do,
but that-owing TO this article requir-
ing unanimity-the League might be
powerless to act at all.
Mr. Wilson's answer to the fourth
question is practically a repetition of his
aanswer to the third, except that in an
swer to the second part OF the fourth
que stion-which inquired as to his posi-
ton on the subject of self-determina-
ton for dreland--he avoided stating his
position, but again pointed with pride to
Article XII of the covenant and raised a
rhetorical cloud under cover OF which he
closed the discussion.
Mr.. Wilson's whole political career has
been based on tine assumption tina.
Barnum was right.
I think, however. that this time the
American people, through the Senate,
will vindicate the faith which Lincoln
had in them and will not throw in their
fortunes with the morally bankrupt en-
pires which have stolen the peace after
America had won the war.
JOHN f. CURRAN.
NEW YORK, September 23.