The Washington times., 1919-07-18
FOR
IRELAND IN LEAGUE
Samuel Untermyer Pledges His
Aid in Erin's Fight
For Liberty.


the fundamentally through which
Ireland will attain independence is
the belief of Samuel Untermyer, eX-
pressed in a latter to Judge Daniel
F. Cohalan.
After pledging his support to the
movement to free Ireland from mo-
tives OF justice and a desire TO see the
wrongs Of centuries rlghted, the New
York attorney who has represented
the Government in q number OF pro-
ceedings, says he is under a heavy
load OF personal obligation to many
Irish-Americans who helped him
when he was "a poor and helpless
boy"
Sees No War In League.
Dealing directly with the league
as an agency to aid Ireland Mr..
Untermyer says:
II do not agree that Article X re-
quires US to go to war to prevent ex-
ternal aggression on the part of any
Of the established governments that
are parties to the covenant, or in the
defense OF any country in which we
are not directly interested, or that
IL will prevent US from giving the
fullest moral support, to Ireland in
it's great struggle. The means that
we shall adopt in any such event.
whether by economic pressure or In
any or all of the many other ways
that do not involve armed force, are
left to the judgment OF each nation
to determine for itself when the
exigency arises.
Nor do read Article x or any OF
the other provisions OF the covenant
as interfering with the utmost free
dom OF action by American citizens
In 81 -
ject always to the Limitation that this
country cannot be made the base OF
revolutionary conspiracies against
friendly nation. There is no reason,
however, why one cannot agttate by
all peaceful means so as to affect
public opinion in Great Britain and
elsewhere and in many lawful ways
assist in bringing about the desired
result.
ireland is not logically a part Of
the British Empire nor Is such union
necessary for the protection OF the
latter. It is separated from Great
Britain on all sides by the sea, and
the Celtic race is as different in every
way from the Englishman, Scotchman,
or Welshman as can be possibly imag-
ined.
'I am among those who do not be-
lieve that Ireland can work out its
destiny and achieve the happiness Of
Its people under existing conditions,
nor that 1t needs the protection of
the British Empire or is benefited by
It II Ireland could have its own
tariff and revenue laws and conduct
It's own industrial affairs, the genius
Of its people would in time place 1t
among those in the front ranks of
prosperity. II, however, Ireland can
not achieve complete independence by
peaceful means at this time, want to
see it. in any event. voluntarily ac-
corded at least a colonial government
such as Is possessed by Canada, Aus
tralia, or New Zealand, which to my
mind amounts to virtual freedom. with
many of the added advantages that
would result from that sort of attach
ment
II am not. however, willing at this
critical time in world affairs, to con-
tribute either in money or moral sup
port to, or to be directly or indirectly
identified with. any movement for the
overthrow of any government by
force. Apart from the fact that il
would be hopeless and would injure
the Irish cause, fear II would greatly
embarrass our government in it's re-
istion with a friendly power whose
friendship and cooperation IT requires
II oTQer 10 carry out the vast inter-
national policy OF peace and self-de-
termination upon which we are en-
barked.
Urges Campaign or Peace.
IT have accordingly concluded that
inasmuch as the money and all other
funds collected by your committee
are to be devoted toward a peaceful
educational campaign to impress upon
and keep before the civilized world
the anomalous situation of Ireland
and it's demand for self-determination,
1 shall be glad to contribute. and am
herewith inclosing my check for
5000.
After all, such a campaign will be
your most powerful weapon, for your
cause is just. and Ireland's wrongs
have been and are intolerable. We'd
ded as l am to the conviction that the
league of nations will in the end prove
the panacea for the ills OF Ireland,
that through it we shall have an era
of world peace, and that Ireland will
soon secure through that agency its
long-sought opportunity Of determin-
ing its own form OF government, not
withstanding your view to the con-
trary. | would oppose the league if l
felt otherwise"