New-York tribune., 1919-06-26
Senator Contends America
Should Ask Peace Coun-
Gil to Receive Pleas of
Philippines and Ireland
Irish Loyalty Extoued
Wilson Is Declared Blame
less, but Controlled by
Imperialism of Colleagues
Ne1D York Tribune
Washington Bureau

4
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 25.-The peace
conference should hear the Philippine
cry for independence as we'll as the
Irish, Senator Walsh, of Massachusetts,,
declared to-day in the course of a
debate over the recent Borah Irish reso-
luton.
Not only should the Filipinos be
heard by the peace conference, Mr..
Walsh declared, but the proposal to
hear them should come from the Amer
lean peace mission, as a mark of good
faith, before demanding a hearing for
the Irish delegates.
Senator Thomas, of Colorado, pre-
cipitated the controversy by reading
to the Senate letter defending his
own position in voting against the
Borah resolution. In his letter he said
hearings should only be given coun-
tries recognized as co-belligerents dur
ing the war.
II, myself, do not know any reason
why a hearing should be granted to
natlonalities such as Poland and Ru-
mania without giving hearings to a
people who have been struggling for
700 years to establish their right of
self-government and independence, ;"
said Senator Borah. "There are no
possible grounds, in my view of it, by
which we can distinguish between the
r1phfC nfh
pies who have been heard and the right
of Ireland to be heard"
Thomas Draws Distinction
Il may be in error" interrupted SEN
ator Thomas, "but | perceive the dis
tlnction to be this: That the two coun-
tries which the Senator has mentioned
have received the political recognition,
OF other autonomous governments and
were members of the peace conference
since its inception. They were not
given hearings, but they constituted
component parts of the meetings as in
that countries like Corea, India, Egypt
and Ireland not having autonomous
recognition. fall outside of the class
which the Senator mentioned"
go back to the proposition from
which sprung the right of these people
to be heard" replied Senator Borah.
THAT principle was the right of self
etermlnation. 1t was upon that theory
that these hearings were granted, and
upon which the recognitions were made
IN the first instance"
~ think the Senator did not state
the entire situation." said Senator
Thomas. "1n addition to that, these
peoples were militant allies of the
Allies; they fought in our ranks, and
they we're engaged in common cause
against common enemy"
IL am unable to distinguish between
the cause of Ireland and the cause of
a dozen other Municipalities. or peoples,
who might be mentioned, who have had
hearing at the peace conference. !"
said Senator Borah. "The acid test in
the settlement at Versailles is not the
adjustment of conditions for the sub
ject nationalities of the conquered ma
tions, but what rights will be granted
to the subject nationalties of the vic
torious nations.
Criticism of Wilson Denied
81 am not criticising the President
for what he failed to do; l am rather
saying that in my judgment he was
prevented from doing that which he
would have done by reason of the i'm
perialistic purposes and designs of
those with whom he had to contend
But there can be no doubt that the
Presidents policy and the sentiment of
America, included Ireland just as much
as Poland and just as much as Ru-
mania. I believe that Ireland should
have been heard. think that Corea
should have been heard"
"How about Egypt? ?" interrupted Sen
ator Mccormick.
"And Egypt is no better" Senator
Borah went on. "The settling of peace
terms or the writing of the treaty upon
any other basis than this will not in
sure the peace of the world"
Senator Walsh took Senator Thomas
to task for making statements which
he insisted reflected upon the loyalty
of those who supported the Irish reso-
luton. Quoting from a recent speech
by Senator Thomas, Senator Walsh
said:
"These words have been construed as
suggesting that the great element OF
the people in this country of Irish
blood we're not loyal and faithful to
the country. want to say to the Sen.
ator that there never has been a time
in my life when l have seen a race OF
people so united, so earnest, so sincere
so devoted to great principle, as the
people of Irish blood in America are
to-day. 1t is not a question of North
or South, of Democrats or Republicans
of Catholics or Protestants. 1t ought
not to be party question. If there is
anything fundamental in Americas life
it is that every race Of people has the
spark of liberty in the human breast
and America ought always to be ready
and willing to help any people strug-
Cling for independence and liberty,
whether they are black or white, wher-
ever they come from. or in whatever