Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-06
WILSON FOR IRISH,
ALPHABETICALLY
President Refuses to Com.
nit Himself OH Peace
Table Attitude
OBJECTS TO QUESTIONS
Receives Committee Appoint
ed at Race Convention in
This City
OBJECTS TO QUESTIONS

President Wilson declared himself in
sympathy with the people of ireland
who desire independence. but he refused
10 state what his official attitude would
he at the Peace Conference, according
to the official account of his meeting
with special committee in New York,
Tuesday evening.
The committee was created at the Irish
Race Convention in this city recently
II was authorized to lay Irelands claims
TO independence from Great Britain be-
fore the President
The official account Of what transpred
at the meeting follows:
Ask President to state Attitude
After former Justice Goff had intro
duced various members and explained
the action of the Philadelphia conven-
'tion in sending them he began:
Mr. President, representing as we
do many millions of your fellow Ameri-
can citizens. ask you 10 present TO
the Peace Conference in Paris the right
Of Ireland TO determine the form OF
government under which she shall live.
Will YOU do it?'
81 do not believe should he called
upon to answer such a question: the
President answered
Then he explained his position as
head OF the nation and its official rep
resentative at the Peace Conference,
and said he did not think It fair TO ask
him to state what would be his course
in Paris He said he understood he was
m ba 1n+ oln 4a1
in Philadelphia and to hear arguments
of the delegation.
That was not my understanding
Mr.. Goff said.
mfr. Wilson turned TO Eugene F.
KinCaid, former Congressman and
member of the committee, and inquired:
Was that not your understanding"
Personally In Accord with Aims
"Mr. Kincaid said It was and then
the President went on to explain that
personally he was in accord with the
aspirations OF the Irish as voiced by
Mr.. Goff and had been for long time,
but that he should not be called upon
TO state his official attitude. no matter
what his personal feelings might be-
"He said he was not unfriendly 70
the cause as the delegation had pre-
scented 1t, but the situation with which
he has TO contend is very delicate and
complicated one which he must be al
lowed to meet by methods which seemed
best to him and not use methods that
might injure the cause instead OF help
ing It.
Frank r. Walsh former Joint chair
man of the war labor board. called the
Presidents attention to his activities in
behalf of the smaller nations The
President agreed he had been active in
this direction. and again turning to Mr..
Goff continued:
81 wish you TO understand further
that the Irish question has not yet been
presented 10 the Peace Conference.
These countries that are falling into our
laps. as 1t were, are doing so on ac-
count OF the breaking up OF the powers
with which we have been at war, and
when the Irish question comes up / will
have to use my best judgment as to how
to meet it,
"Mr. Gof. on behalf of the commit
tee, then wished the President God
speed and good luck on his coming voy-
age, and the President left. He had
spent about twenty-five minutes with
the delegation"