New-York tribune., 1919-07-10
Rights of Small Nations
and Their Pleas Never
Considered by. Big Four.
Asser. Walsh apd Dunno
See Better Chance Soon
Delay Means Suffering, but
Fairer Hearing in Full
Peace Sessions, They Say

In preliminary report to the Irish
race convention the American Com
mission on Irish Independence, ap-
pointed by that body, charges that
President Wilson did not fight for his
principles at the peace conference The
report was made public yesterday by
Frank p. Walsh, chairman of the COM
mission. The other members are for
mer Governor Edward f. Dunno of Hi
nois and Michael Ryan Of PHILADELPHIA.
The peace conferrees are likened in
the report to the stockholders of a
corporation having nothing whatever
to do with the management of the af-
fairs of the company, but represented
by board of drectors-controled in
turn by a powerful minority, the big
four.
The report was made public at the
Waldorf Astoria after a conference be-
tween Eamon de Valera, "president of
the Irish republic; Dr.. Patrick Mac
Cartan, the Sim Fen Ambassador"
to the United States, and Walsh,
Dunno and Ryan.
The report in part follows:
"When the American commission on
Irish independence was sent to Paris By
the Irish Race Convention it was be-
lleved that thee was being held in Paris
a general peace conference; that this
peace conference was composed in the
language of President Wilson, not of
diplomats and statesmen, nor even of
governments, but of peoples, through
chosen representatives 1t was as
sumed that in accordance with the de-
clared principles for the assertion of
which America entered the war-the
outstanding one being the right of all
mi to J-Iz Z
erninent under which they should live
any small nation might submit its case
to this forum, show that it lcame within
the principles proclaimed, and secure,
as a matter of strict right, international
recognition Of its independent status.
GAS a matter of fact there has been
no such body in existence.
"The Committee of Four was, to all
practical intents and purposes, the en-
tire conference. At no time, so far
as we were advised, did it pass upon
any question of right affecting small
nations at the initiative or appeal of
such nations or their peoples, though
appeals of this character were numer-
Gus.
"No such small nation, of it's own
initiative, ever obtained an oral hear
ing.
No abstract principle of right ever
was declared at the instance of any
such small nation.
Large amounts of territory were
transferred from one sovereignty to
another; the rulers of many millions
Of people have been changed; in some
instances new states have been carved
out; but all of this has been merely
incidental to the activities aforesaid
The only small nations accorded in
ternatlonal recognition or new rights
have been those formerly held in sub
lection by enemy belligerents, and in
practically all instances these small
nations have been made dependent up
on, II not vassals of, one or more of
the great powers.
With the signing of the preliminary
peace terms with Germany, the Com
mittee of Four dissolved and the
claims of small nations, including ire
land, go to the full peace conference.
Whlle this delay undoubtedly means
prolonged suffering under the rule of
the English Army of Occupation. and
the loss OF many precious lives in the
existing warfare in Ireland, vet the
refusal of the Committee of Four to
take up lreland's claim to the right of
sell determination and their recogni-
tlon OF her Republic may work to her
ultimate advantage.
properly interested in obtaininp renar-
alton for his devastated country and
guarantees for its future safety; Llovd
George serving his King, and lighting
craftily to retain and acquire territory.
riches and sea powers for England.
with President Wilson not fighting for
has principles-a small nation submit
ting its case prior to this time might
have been subjected to grave peril.
The Committee of Four, assuming to
act for the whole peace conference,
might have decided that the appealing
nation was not entitled to recognition.
and 1t could thereafter be claimed that
having submitted a case to the peace
conference-a forum selected by itself
1t was forever foreclosed by the ad-
verse decision
Respectfully submitted,
AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH
INDEPENDENCE
Frank P Walsh. Chairman