The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-04-12
4 Statement of Ireland'S Case
For Freedom for Submission
To the Peace Conference

The ancient sovereign state of Ire
land, one of the primary sovereign
states Of Christendom, claims resump-
ton of her sovereign independence,
recognition of her status by the In
+ ternational Peace Congress, and in
tervention on her behalf by way of
international guarantee Of future re-
spect Tor her independence; and sub
mits in support of her claim the sub
Joined fourteen propositions, prefaced
by a brief synopsis of them, respec-
lively:
/. The Irish nation earnestly de-
sires the International Peace Con-
gress to be pure and impartial in its
constitution and proceedings, beyond
the reach of the power and contami-
nation of states guilty of entering
into secret treaties in conflict with
their public professions and with the
rights and interests of peoples sub
ject to them and of peoples subject
to other states; beyond the reach of
all influences save those of authentic
history and justice; in order that it
may inspire confidence in all nations,
small as we'll as great, to be affected
by it's decisions; and that those de-
cisions may be of a character fitting
for the beginning of a new era OF
amity 4mong nations and peaceful
progress throughout the world.
2. Ireland is historically entitled
to independence as one of the. primary
sovereign states of Christendom, new,
er having forfeited or lost her SOW
ereign status or consciously recog.
nized sovereignty over her in any 9th.
er country; always having so resented
and resisted the usurpation of foreign
military force that the continual pres
ence of an army of occupation has
always been, and still is essential to
the maintenance Of foreign rule; hav
ing always venerated, and still vener
ating as her truest patriots the purest
and best of her sons who, treated by
England as criminals, have, generation
after generation, offered their lives In
open insurrection for her freedom
still adhering to her right of sover
eighty with matchless fidelity and ten
acity at Unreasonable sacrifice Of lif'
and property. Of all this, the presence
of England's. army Of occupation Z
England's practical admission. AL
Irish national characteristics, especial
ly love of freedom, are acknowledged
by English legislation and Englisf
statesmen. Nor can England have &C
quired any right over Ireland by pre-
scription, because (a) prescription is {
domestic principle not applicable be
tween nations: "Grotius." A furth
er historical basis, sufficient in itself
that at present vast majority Of the
Irish population, of every race Of
which it is composed, regard foreign
rule as slavery, and are animated by
reasoned determination never tc
=. yield willing allegiance to foreign
rule, to destroy it at the earliest pos
sible moment, and to continue resist
ance to it until Ireland's sovereign
independence is re-established and Sc
cured.
3. Ireland's constitutional right IL
supported by her meritorious record
when Independent. The public profes
sion of anxiety for civilization as 8
justification Of the Great War gives
special force to this claim. Ireland's
unique services to civilization from
the sixth to the twelfth centuries, es
pecially during the eighth, ninth an6
tenth, when history shows that thu
services were most opportune and i'm
portant, strengthen her constitutions
right and constitute an additional
special claim upon Europe to enable
her to resume her independence Tht
distinctions won by Irishmen II
(, strange lands in those early times, al
shown in this statement, were tri
umphs for herself and benefits to man
kind as noble as ever nation achieved
and not to the continent alone, but t.
England also, as acknowledged by thu
Venerable Bede, in marked contras
with Englapl's subsequent treatmen
of Irishmen in England, and Englisl
laws against religion .and civilization
in Ireland. And throughout her agon!
Of subsection and persecution Irelant
has shown the permanence of tina
spirit and attitude by never prac
ticing persecution and by always main
/ rs. 334l5 rs. 41528