The Washington times., 1919-01-19

Not unIll EreSIoent wilson returns
from overseas may the question of
INSTRUMENTATION fer ireland be
brought to the attention Of Congress.
IL the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee, before which the question has
been pending for more than a month
acts on. 1t at all before the, end. of the
Sixty-fifth Congress on March 4. both
Democratic and Republican members
OF the House stated today. -.
There is a wide divergence of opin-
lon in the House. they added, as to
how the Irish question should be dis
posed of. The House Foreign Af-
: fairs Committee is split wide open
on the course it should take with re-
gard to the question, several of it's
members admitted.
Some of them said they believed
that the resolution sponsored by Con Z.
gresham Joseph Mclaughlin, Repub-
ltcan, of Pennsylvania, national presi-
dent of the Ancient Order of Hibern-
ians. which provides that the Presi-
dent and the Secretary of State "be
directed to make such representations
TO Great Britain as shall result in
the establishment Of a government
IN Ireland similar to the government
that now exists in Canada would
be the best way out Of the difficulty
Another Plan Favored.
Others of them declared for the
resolution offered by CONGRESSMAN
Thomas Gallagher, Democrat, of Hi {.
nois. which provides that Congress
request the American peace commits
sioners to present at the peace con-
ference the right of ireland to free
dom. independence, and self -determi-
nation"
The question or the propriety of
Congress passing a resolution re-
questing our peace commissioners t.
urge the Acknowledgement of a nation
with which we were associated in tho
war" was raised by Congfessmari
Henry d. Flood. Democrat. of Vir-
ginta, chairman of the House For
eign Affairs Committee.
we believe the Irish to be a great
people, and feel that they should have
the right of self-determination."
chairman Flood said. II believe such
IS ths sentiment Of the people of the
United States. The serious question,
howeyer. 10 the propriety Of the Cal
lagher resolution under the circum-
stances with which our Government
Is now confronted. This resolution
requests our peace commissioners to
urge the freedom and separation and
self-determinatlon of Ireland II that
does not mean dismemberment of the
British empire, do not know what ii
does mean" -,
Flood View Approved.
Floods view OF the situation was
approved by other members Of the
House, both Democratic and Repub-
lican. They Joined in statements TO
ha mil
barrassing to President Wilson and
the American peace commissioners to
have Congress urge them to bring up
the Irish question at the peace con-
ference"
Mclaughlin, who pointed out that
he was head OF an organization of
more than 100000 Irish-Americans,
declared that he considered his reso-
luton the best one for Congress to
act on as 1T provided not only for
the same kind of government for
Ireland as Canada enjoys, but would
give Ireland full right to enact such
legislation as will promote the pros
pertty of the country, adequately de
velop its resources, and safeguard
the rights, the liberties, and the in
terests Of its people"
There is not such a condition in
the north of Ireland along religious
lines as has been claimed" McI-augh-
lin continued. 1T Is only those who
enjoy special privileges from the Eng
lish government who try to create
this distinction. ] am from the north
OF Ireland, and ] know what I am
talking about. The best evidence in
the world Is the fact that the nine
northern counties, which they call
Ulster. have elected q majority Of Ma
ttonalist members to the British Par
lament"
Favor Mclaughlin Plan.
Members Of the House said that
they thought the Mclaughlin resolu-
ton would receive the support of
that body, whereas the Gallagher
resolution would be certain to prove
tinderboS" that UoIIld ''nroVoke IN