The Irish standard., 1919-05-03
Presenting Ire|and's Case

Easter Week, the canalising of major
ity opinion into separation during the
war, and the universal national rejec-
tion of the Home Rule Bill upon the
Statute Book. AS for India, MacDon-
aid said British Labour stood for
Home Rule, holding that India was
as much entitled to self.government
(within the British Empire, it goes
without saying) as South Africa, Can
ada, or Australia. Egypt, he said, was
entitled to the same right to selfgov-
ernment as India, but indeed the Brit
ish Labour Party of late years had
not had much occasion to concern it.
self about the Egyptian question. Cy-
prus, on the other hand, which had
been acquired by Great Britain for
strategic reasons had every right to
self-determination. What would not
an Indian or Egyptian, or an 1rishman
give to be Cypriote. And yet, as we
know, the Cypriotisation of a man from
any of these three countries to which
British Labour would graciously de-
termine Home Rule within the Empire
would not eliminate the necessity of
armed insurrection, if my memory still
serves me right.
Stating lreland's Case.
We had already arranged that the
Irish case would be put by an Irish
delegate, and MacDonald's declaration
made an excellent setting for us when
our turn came later. 1t fell to my lot
to do the talking for Ireland, but am
not going to inflict my speech upon the
readers of "The Voice." which indeed,
has already printed the British spy's
rough and ready, but not altogether
accurate lightning summary of what
had to say. Suffice it for "The Voice"
that the latter part of my speech was
a summary in Irish, that put the ar
guments as we know them at home,
rapidly sketched the military, polit.
ical, and economic subjugatiOn of Ire
land, gave a sketch of our contribu.
tion to the common stock of European
civilization, told the story of Easter
Week and its aftermath. stressed the
continuity of the struggle for indepen'
dence, pointed the moral of the insur'
rections of 1898, 1903, 1S4S, 1867. and
1916; showed that we still possess all
the constituent elements of distinc.
tive nationality, detailed the success
full campaign against conscription, de
scribed the growing national consci.
BUSINESS of the people, eliminating in
the vote for independence at the Gen
eral Election and the Constituent AS.
sembly; drew attention to the import
ance of Irish influence in America and
the British QOminions, argued the i'm
portance of Ireland's international
political and geographical position, re-
peating the story of 1reland's many
blood offerings for freedom on the Con
| tinent; summarized the situation in
Ireland when we had left, including
the treatment of the prisoners; dem.
onstrated conclusively that neither
Home Rule nor any measure of self
government short of independence
would satisfy majority Irish opinion; /;
exposed the hypocrisy of the British
Government in its various schemes, in
Guiding the Lloyd George Convention; !;
demanded the full, absolute, and free
choice by the people of their sover.
eighty; declared the peoples unshak.
able determination to have their free.
dom, pleaded for the exercise amongst
the Governments, and at the Peace
Conference in Paris, of the Interna'
tionals influence in Ireland's behalf,
alike in the interest of the workers
in Ireland, the people in general, and
the International; recalled the paral
lei of the nationalities represented by
previous speakers, and finally cited
both Ireland's readiness and Jreland's
ability to disturb the peace of the
world until such times as her expressed
and duly confirmed will to indepen
dence is recognized by the Powers.
Disinterested England.
Our case was listened to with great
interest and close attention, partly
perhaps owing to what "L'Humanite'
generously described as my vigorous
Intervention on behalf of Ireland,
but still more owing to the fact that
our case in detail was fresh to many
Of the delegates, that it was the only
case made for nationality subject
to any of the Entente Powers, that II
threw new light upon England's dis
Interested regard for small nations and
self-determination, and that it was in
fiat contradiction to the attitude of the
British delegation but right in agree
ment with practically all other declar
atiOns on similar concrete cases In
which self-determination is demanded
in Europe.