The Irish standard., 1919-05-17
BRITISH ANXIOUS FOR AN IRISH SETTLE
MENT


Anxiety for settlement of the Irish question is
manfesting itself strongly in all the British partes
including the hitherto hostile Tories The Labor
Party scheduled to take action on this vital
subject during the past week. 1t is said that Victor
Hartshorn one of the most powerful of the leaders
of the Welsh miners, will propose home rule
ton in Parliament which will be seconded by Jack
Jones, an Irshman, who is popular labor leader
in England. Both the English masses and classes
have apparently come to realizing sense of the
fact that the entente between America and Britain
can never be cordial or solid while Erin is denied
the right of selfgovernment and without Americas
whole-hearted support the League of Nations is
doomed to status little less important than that of
the old Hague tribunal.
The League of Nations covenant is vital to
Britain, but not necessarily to America If a
referendum is taken on the mater is indi-
Gated the fate of the League may be decided in
this country. An adverse popular expression of the
ballots would consign it to the international scrap
pile, Notwithstanding the arduous labors of Presi-
dent Wilson. This the Britishers are, coming to
apprehend, and they know that much will depend
for the success of the League project the treat
ment of Irelands troubles: Hence the British ner
vousness for the speedy elimination of this question
from international politics.
America is now asked to enter into alliance
with the other great powers OF the world for the
purpose Of establishing permanent international
peace. 1t becomes pertinent therefore to inquire
into and consider the character and honesty of
associates in the pursuit of this objective, the most
of that empire with Ireland essential part of
such an inquiry, for the two countries separated
by only few miles of sea, and it is easy matter
to control the functions of government in the
smaller island, whether for good or ill., And what
does the record of past and current history disclose
with reference to the good faith and fair dealing of
Great Britain-one OF Our co-signatorles Of the
League of Nations7 Does it not bristle with CHI
canery and perfdy? Is it not filled with the debris
Of broken contracts and unredeemed pledges Of
honor? Does it not abound in agreements which
were converted into mere scraps of paper when at
the dictaton of selfinterest epediency? Does it
not show partiality and inequality in the admins
tration Of its own statutes in the case of the
execution of Roger Easement and the immunity.
and promotion of Sir Edward Carson? Has it not
baked and stalled in the institution of home rule,
duly enacted in its statutes, because of intim
dation and threats of few recalcitrant Orangemen
in Ulster thus violating the fundamental principles
of democracy, and putting gag on the over
whelming majority of the Irish people? Has it not
ment accorded to the brave men who rose to assert
the natural rights Of their country in the rebellion
of 1916? Has it not been similarly brutal in its
treatment of the Sim Fein prisoners who were sub
\ screen of an alleged German plot, and who were
denied the right of hearing and trial? And does
it not even yet hold many of these men prisoners
six months after the signing of the armistice? Does
II which British statesmen have proclaimed to the
u world as the fundamental right of many European
peoples wherein the interests of Britain were not
y involved?
It is with such record that Britain must face
America and the world in the consideration of the
& League of Nations compact. It is small wonder,
& therefore, that Englishmen manfesting some
anxiety to find satisfactory solution of the Irish
question as to enter the world tribunal with clean
u hands.
After all, the League quest for peace may turn
out to be bluebird affair 50 far as America is
/ concerned. Americans have not yet, at any rate,
Which would @ permit t them to gulp down Without
y reservation the sublimated phantasms of Rhodes
q and Carnegie
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