The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-04-26

: Chronicle.
HIS EYE is FIXED
ON PARIS CONFERENCE
WatchfulIy Waiting for Opportunity
to Present IreIand's Case Be.
fore World Tribunal.
I have been up to Dublin Castle.
But following long, animated and
quite friendly exchange of opinions l
departed still out of mental touch
with the authorities. Since then l
have interviewed De Valera. This
was before he had entered Dublin.
Through midnight darkness swift
car took me to the leader.
Il went on this errand prepared with
no set ihterviewer's questions. There
were but two thoughts in my mind
thoughts intimately related, yet curl
ously conflicting; one, the imminent
possibility of another outbreak of red
rebellion in this part of the so-called
United Kingdom; two, the universal
and unaffected friendliness existing
between individual English and indi-
vidual Irish. In other words, it was
a matter Of enduring wonder that po..
litical enmity was free from the slight
est trace of personal enmity.
Nightmare Farce.
"Since the personal is necessarily
the real and the political only the arti-
fetal, one seems to be looking on as
a sort of nightmare farce. It was DIFF
ficult not to believe that the whole
difficulty, now apparently at it's cul-
mination, might yet be solved BY q
touch of healing common sense. On
finding myself seated before the fire
in little parlor, face to face with the
great Sim Feiner, l was concerned
merely to project myself into his mind
to try and see things as he saw
them. De Valera is pleasant man
to talk to. The familiar photograph
carries slightly forbidding sugges-
tion that is wholly misleading. His
is the face of man that has known
much nervous strain and physical suf-
fering; but as he talks very human
light beacons from his eye, and now
and then little humorous smile plays
around his mouth.
up to a point he proved very
mild and constitutional rebel, with his
eye fixed on Paris. 1T is the unques-
tionable right of every enlightened
people to govern Themselves On that
basis he took his stand We demand
self-determination, which will be for
the advantage. not only of ourselves,
but also Of England. We ask the right
to enter into the League of Nations.
Because England imposes upon US a
government against our will, under
which we refuse to continue living.
Ireland throughout the war has been
costly handicap and source Of weak.
ness to England
Not . Partner.
Why l asked, did you not CO.
operate with US, and lend US your
strength. as a partner in the British
Empire?'"
Because replied De Valera, we
are not q partner. We are knit to
you forcibly against our will. A part
nership must be voluntary
"'Yet are there not in this case the
elements Of natural partnership,
based upon proximity, an intermingled
history and links of language and lit
erature?'
"'Of kind replied De Valera, and
If you think so then why are you fear
full Of giving US the freedom you enjoy
yourselves? II you granted Ireland
Independence tomorrow, would those
natural links and ties cease to exist!
Give us freedom-freedom to enter
voluntarily into whatever associations
with England we may desire-and all
natural and inherent affinities will for
the first time u free to find full ex.
pression.' H. sf,ae -. Il II
Note he went on eagerly, yet tp
diciaily, I promise nothing and 81
prophesy nothing. One may anaeil
pate at any rate preliminary period
In which Ireland will be fully satis4al
in merely drawing the breath Of subn'
cipation. But natural Laws, likeIttth
and Righteousness, must 2prevaihoDb IL
and prevail promptly when tlysRp| =
no barrier imposed on their patAy| n
Homeiy Metaphor. i,ltsn -s
lat 10 put It another Wy. Il