New-York tribune., 1919-02-24
Gibbons Backs
Irish Freedom
Demand in Z. S.
Continued from page l


humanity, because we believe that war
cannot be ended and just and perma-
hent peace cannot be brought about
unless the doctrine of self determina-
ton be applied to Ireland and the peo-
pie OF that country be permitted to de-
c'de Tor themselves the form of gov
ernment under which they shall live.
We pcint out that England has tried
IN every way to coerce or to persuade
or to caJole the people of Ireland to
give up their devotion to their national
aspirations and tried them all in vain.
Lloyd George within the last few
months has been compelled to assert
that ireland IS at present asnmuch on
posed to British rule as in the dave nf
Cromwell -
Irish Sentiment United
Inc 'ndustries>of Irelanl have been
destroyed; her trade ana conmercc
wiped out; her population cut in two:
ner leaders deported and held in Eng
llsh Jalls without indictment or trial:
and yet within the last two monAh,
1ne people, with a unanimity neye~
nefore attained, have again declared
thelr utter dissatisfaction with English
RUE and their determination to be free
"England refuses to listen to the
voice of Ireland, but we poin1 ont thnr
England likewise refused TO listen TO
the voice OF the American colonies.
Lngland was compelled less than zen
tury and half ago to recognize TIE
independence Of the colonies, and with
IN the last year the efforts of our
country saved England ana her allies
from total defeat at the hanGs of the
Central Powers.
The land to which England was
thus compelled to do justice has Just
saved England in her nour of need.
let England now realize that justice to
Ireland, which she has so long denied.
with grievous loss to Ireland but also
with great loss TO herself. WI now re-
move from hcr path the 6lttorest hos
tillty which she has to encounter all
over the world and will convince man
KIND in general of the sincerity of her
declarations when she says She believes
IN liberty and justice Tor others as
we'll as for herself.
Essential to Lasting Peace
FINALLY, we urge this claim tina.
peace and order may be brought out O,
now seems to be threatened. In this
great hour, when governments are be-
ing reformed and when peoples long
oppressed by tyranny are emerging
again into the sunlight of liberty le.
there be sincerity and uncclishness
upon the part of those who are con-
trolling the peace conference, to the
end that the mistakes of the Congress
of Vienna may be avoided aid a peace
made that will be lasting and perma-
nent because it VIII be Just end right.
Upon the shoulders of cur Pre5l-
dent and Congress rests IN the las.
analysis the responsibility of the peaoa
that shall be made. We urge them TO
act in accordance with the doctrines
laid down on our behalf when We en-
tered the war and in accordance with
the resolution recently adopted, almost
unanimously, by the Foreign Affairs
Committee OF the House of Representa-
tives, to the end that autocracy and
militarism may be forever destroyed
and that the right Of self f-determina-
ton shall be given to all thc peoples
of the earth"
Declaration of Principles Follows
With the adoption Of the Cardinals
resolution, Michael J. Ryan, of Phila-
delphia, read the declaration of prin-
!
up by committee representing every
section of the United States.
The declaration, in part, follows:
"As American citizens we uphold
the honor and interests Of the United
States, as our race has done during
all the years that have elapsed from
the start of the revolution to the pres
ent day. We are proud of the splendid
record our people have made III the
lighting forces of the Republic in the
war which has gust closed, and are
ready 10 perform any duty and make
any sacrifices our government may. in
the future, demand
eve heartily approve the principles
of justice, liberty and peace for all
mankind proclaimed by President Will
son in his declarations of Americas
objects in the war. These had the ap-
proval of the entire American people
and were the chief cause of their
enthusiastic support of the war They
were indorsed by the spokesmen of
the British government while hostil-
tiles were in progress, and the whole
world was led to believe that the
achievement of the purposes pro-
claimed by the President was the sole
object of the war.
Britain Approved Principles
Among tnOSe declarations the one
that All peoples are entitled to self
determination received universal sup
port and became the war cry of the
peoples who were fighting Germany.
Our government and those of the coun-
tries associated with US in the war are
therefore bound in honor to apply
the principle of self determination to
Ireland, as we'll as to the other sub
merged nations which have been
granted their freedom as a result of
the war. If it is not applied to Ire
land the United States will be placed
in most unfavorabie light before
the civilized world and President Will
sons solemn declarations will be made
a mockery."
After statnge that Ireland is clearly
entitled to lf-determination and that
she has asserted that right for 750
years, the declaration continues:
aside from Ireland's inaiienable
right to govern herself in her own way,
without interference by any people
outside her own shores, the attempt Of
England to rule her against the con-
sent of her people is the most conspic-
uous failure in all history.
at has failed in every essential
thing for which governments exist
the promotion of the welfare of the