The Irish standard., 1919-06-07

A Popular Subject of Debate in
Schools and Colleges.
Widespread Interest Is Seen as 'Ac-
tion on Covenant Is to Be Taken.
Washington, May 26.-The open
ing of Congress, together with the
efforts of the Irish American commit
tee in Europe to secure hearing for
the representatives of the Irish people
before the Peace Conference, has
quickened interest in the Irish inde-
pendence movement and held out the
prospect of extended discussion of the
subject in both Houses. 1t will come
up in two ways. One, probably sew
eral, resolutions will be offered in the
House, intended to express the SYM
pathy of Congress with the Irish peo.
pie in their struggle to secure recogni-
ton of the principle of self.determina-
ton. formulated by President Wilson
and ostensibly recognized by the
Peace Conference. The subject will
also come up for discussion in con-
nection with the League of Nations
Covenant
The personnel of the newly organ.
lied Committee on Foreign Relations
of the senate and Committee on For
eign Affairs of the House is such that
the problem of Irish independence is
certain to be given sympathetic con-
sideration. On the committees are
Senators and Representatives who are
not only of the opinion that the Irish
people should, as matter of right,
have an opportunity to shape their
own political destiny, but that 1t is a
question for the legitimate considera-
tion of Congress, inasmuch as this
Government is to be called upon to
approve political world readjustment
professedly made in accordance with
the principle of self-determination.
The situation, with which Congress
is confronted, was admirably outlined
by Senator Sherman of Illinois, in the
Senate, on May %, in debate, which
may be regarded as prelude to the
storm, which will break when the full
treaty is taken up for consideration.
He said of Article X of the League
of Nations Covenant:
1--WE undertake to defend and pre-.
serve the borders of every member
nation as fixed at the time of the
adoption of the league and the peace
treaty. When France Joined with the
American colonies in the Revolution
If this league had existed, it would
have forbidden the sword of Lafayette
to be drawn with Washington's, and
would have crushed the infant repub
lie beneath the armies of George III
and Louis XVI. 1t announces in sub
stance to mankind that the period OF
successful revolution has drawn to 9
close in the worlds history. It has
closed the book of human experience
and written the last chapter in, the
evolution of human government. II
is the knell of revolt against arbitrary
power. 1t offers premium on baG
government, however intolerable, by
shutting the door Of hope on the op
pressed, and warning external pow
ers to leave the tyrant alone with his
:, victim, sanctified by the holy cove
nants of this eternal league. May not
the future mothers of mankind gaze
in mute despair upon the starless
night Of races, bound for ages in the
changeless dominion forged in these
mighty powers? Might they not pra,
to be smitten with sterile curse
that their offspring might escape the
doom Of perpetual bondage, pro
nounced in this infamous covenant
malign and sinister to all the future
sons of men?
1T obliges the United States to TAX,
up 0AulSs " VI all I'D AlOA dUU C1A III
people to support the boundary line
of Great Britain, France or any othe
member country, possessed of colon
lial dependencies wherever found"
| In the face Of this declaration
which reflects the point of view of ,
considerable number Of Senators, it Il
not probable that the time-worn BRIT
ish defense that Ireland is a domesti,
question will be Of much avail. TIL,
Poles, the Czecho-S -Slovaks, the Jugo
slavs are to have their independence
guaranteed. Senator Lodge, the chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Re
lations, even submitted to the Senate
la resolution signed by 10000 Protest
ant rectors and ministers and Catholi,
Ipriests in favor of the integral inde
lpendence of Armenia.