The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-24
Ireland Presents
Claims
Provisional Government of
Irish Republic Asks Seat In
Peace Conference

Paris. April, % Correspondence OF
F:.e Associated Press)--l1cre arc the
c:9: ms of The Provisional Govern
:n:.at OF the Irish Republic" to the
right-to participate in the Peace Con-
E: ference and TO join the League OF
Nations, rs free and independent. laid
before the Conference in the form OF
Il nlcmoria presented 10 Premier
Clc1ncnceau by Sean r. O'Ceallaigh
the Sim Fein delegate Of the Re
public" in Paris.
."ircland is Il nation which has cx-
cscis"d the right OF self-detcrmina-
;ion in harmony With the principles
formulated by Presiden, Wilson anc
accepted by the belligerents as tn.
only sure founda ton for world
peace read the memorial. 1t is
not only in the past that Ireland.
generation after generation. has striv-
Ell by force Of arms as we'll as by all
pacific means to regain her national
freedom. At the general election last
December. the issue. and the only is
sue placed before the Irish people
was the independence Of their coun-
try and by majority Of more than
three TO one the representatives elect
ed by the constitutional machinery Of
the ballot box are pledged to the abo-
lition Of English rule in Ireland.
I'm none Of the small nationalities
with which the Peace Conference has
hitherto occupied itself is the unani-
nifty Of the people so great; in none
has the national desire for freedom
been asserted SO mmistakably and
with so much emphasis.
Following upon the general cleo
ton, an Irish National Assembly has
met: an Irish Republic has been con-
stituted and proclaimed 10 the world:
a president has been appointed and
With him ministers TO direct differ
ent Departments Of state: 4 program
of domestic policy has been issued
and an appeal has been addressed to
the nations OF the world 70 recognize
the free Irish state that has thus been
recalled to life.
lsut While The national Will has been
declared and The mechanism Of free
government is ready. the former Is
being srifled and the latter paralyzed
by England's ruthless exercise Of mill
tary power. The president is fugi
tive; the Irish Parliament is forced
10 conduct its business in secret: the
most elementary civil rights are ahro-
gated: courts martial arv sitting III
every center: and the gaolS are filled
with prisoners. victims Of every bru-
tality and indignity whose only Of
fensc is that they have sought the
freedom Of their native land. II is
in these circumstances that the. Irish
nation through me. addresses the
Peace Conference.
ireland na:lifcsuy comes within
the scope Of theT principles that have
been endorsed by civilized nations.
and il is for the application OF these
principles that the Peace Conference
is now sitting Ireland is weak: Eng
land is strong. Ireland in every pos
sihle way has asserted her right TO
freedom. which England. by Shec:
militariSm is intent now as always
in the past To destroy. 1t y only by
the exercise of tyl:annical power that
Ire:andS right to freedom can be de-
MED 1t is TO the great principle of
national freedom. represented in the
Peace Conference. that ireland. cx-
haliStcd Dy tho cruclticS OF English
rule. her population annihllated by
onc-half within living memory. her in
duStreS destroyed. her natural re-
sources wasted. her civil liberties end
cd. her chosen leaders prescribed and
treated as fclons now makes her ap
peal.
Article Ten Of the draft covenant
of the League Of Nations is framed l"
secure national independence against
aggression Of an external power. Its
terms are as foliow'S:
The high contracting powers un-
.lcrtake 10 respect and preserve as
against external aggression the ter
,.itorial integrity. and existing politi-
cal independence Of all states mem
hers Of the League. In ease OF any
such aggression the Executive Coun-
Gil shall advise upon the means by
which This obligation shall be fulfil
led
ireland as q nation that has de.