The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-18

Washington, Aug: 1T.--Amazing
revelations Of England's present at
titude toward the United States and
pointed criticism of England's treat
ment Of Ireland are made In a re-
marka BILE letter by Lord French,
British lord lieutenant of Ireland,
hitherto unpublished in America
In this letter which was written
to the Irish statesman, Dublin, and
given out here by the Irish national
bureau, Lord French, who was the
British com mander in chief in 1914
10, after advocating a wide dominion
status and skotching economic con-
ditions in England declares:
NO well informed man now re-
CARDS the powers that govern in Eng
land with respect and confidence. To
nurse further trouble in ireland,
with the inevitable reaction in Ameri-
refused to be doped with the blessed
words. Law and Order. is sheer
madness
AT present the average English
man refuses to realize these facts. He
would say. i have won the greatest
war in history. I absolutely com
mand the seas, If those dagoes in
Europe choose to starve or Bolshe-
VIE. ! am not going to worry too
much about it, AS for America let
her wallop her own niggers. but I am
not going to submit to dictatlon about
my internal affairs, and Ireland Is
my private affair. America can go
to blazes.'
Lord French's view is that through
the league of nations America is to
/ be nanker and policeman for bank
/ rupt revolutionary Europe in order
~ n ssfho n ~ n n
England's predominant position" in
the world. He says in the letter:
mo Irishman with any knowledge
OF the continuity Of principal or want
OF principle, underlying the policy of
England toward Ireland, a continuity
so curiously exemplifed within the
last few years will expect justice or
fair play fer any spontaneous whole
sale awakening of the English con-
science.
1T is, therefore, waste OF time ar
guing with English people of the jus
tice or injustice of the Irish cause.
II 1t suits the powers tnat gov
ern England they will suddenly dis
cover that the Irish demand Is just
and that Orangeman Is a reactionary
standing in the path of progress.
English sympathy is in the main
antilrish. but self-interest and moth
ing else governs English policy In the
long run. In this England is not
exceptional but only in the hypo-
critical claim for the very highest
motives on all possible occasions.
"England's greatness is dependent
on her wealth. which results from her
trade and her position as the money
market Of the world. Her trade de-
Ponds, for one thing, on the solvcncy
of her customers and on her ability
to finance and. as it were. nurse
promising customers. II further de-
pends on her supremacy in shipping
and her geographical position in re-
laticn to Europe.
THE supremacy OF Europe, as a
continent, in wealth and commerce,
IL essential to the maintenance of
England's predominant position, but
OF Europe is most seriously threat
eped."
After dwelling on the present COO
nomic collapse Of most OF Europe,
Lord French observes:
What is known as capitalist So
ciety is trembling in the balance, and
II II fails II may drag down with It
civilization In Europe az we have
known It. In all this weller Of threat
ened moral and economic ruin, who is
TO act as banker, policeman and
pear.sr,akcr9 We are told the league
Of nations"
Lord French concludes that Ameri-
cas- ana Is necessary In this. but asks: