New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
Recognition for
ireland, Priests s
Plea on Return
Father Fielding, After Four
Months in Country, Says
England Would Recall
Troops if U. S. Would Act
Was Guest of MacSwineys
No Mans Land Is Paradise
Compared to the Emerald
Isle, Pastor Declares

Back from Ireland after a four
months vacation the Rev. j. K Field
ing, pastor of St. Justin Martyr Church,
Chicago, gave to The Tribune last night
an eyewitness story of conditions in
what he called "a baby republic strug-
CLING for recognition among the ma
tions of the world"
Father Fielding attended the funeral
of Lord Mayor MacSwiney a short time
before his departure from Ireland. He
sailed December 5 on the Kaiserin
Auguste Victoria, of the Cunard Line,
arriving in New York Monday evening.
He is stopping at the Hotel Pennsyl-
vanla and will depart this afternoon
for Chicago.
"The sl5,ooo,ooo fire in Cork, Of
which l was informed when l landed
IN New York." he said, twas nothing
ger than some | had witnessed. On the
day I left Cork I saw ten buildings
smouldering in st. Patrick's Street.
Would Aid England
Gree, Ireland would be England's
best friend. A friend at ones door is
better than an enemy, and if Ireland
were free to be friendly with England
the republic would stand hand in hand
with the Kingdom of Great Britain in
preventing encroachments. 1t is only
land, Ireland would be safeguarding
herself and her commerce. It is all
nonsense to contend that a free Ire
land would be menace to England.
IF the government at WASHINGTON n
only would recognize the republic of
Ireland, the British would have an ex
cuse to withdraw gracefully from Ire
land, and from talks | had with Eng
llshmen of standing l believe if Great
Britain only Nd some such good excuse
the British army would be withdrawn
from Ireland
"No Mans Land must have been
paradise itself when compared to Ire
land to-day. At least there men had
a chance. to fight. In Ireland they
haven't the guns or the ammunition
More than 250,00O men are enrolled in
the Irish Republican army, but with
out weapons they are at the mercy of
the Black and Tans. The only weapons
the Irish soldiers have are those they
take by trickery from the British sol
diers.
The contention that religion is the
cause for the trouble in Ireland to-day
Ga iAOHoCiioc OOluC Gl LNe most IN
1uentlal and earnest patriots ireland
has had have been from the northern
section--men like Parnell and Robert
Emmett. They were Protestants.
Cork's Devastation
Il am not one to urge the United
States to mix up in this fight in any
active way. Ireland wants recogn-
tion and l wish the United States
would recognize the republic and its
desire to rule itself. That would be
enough, | think, for l believe that
given this excuse, England would with
draw and the two neighbors would be
friends.
at is a crime to continue the dew
astation of a beautiful city like Cork
he continued. "But l wasn't surprised
to learn of the fire. The City Hall
there was one of the finest in Ireland
The Carnegie Library was beautiful
was in it several times during my
stay in the city.
also while in Cork I was guest
at the home of the MacSwineys, al
though it may be of interest to re-
port that l saw little of the late Lord
Mayors brother while I was there.
You see, he doesn't sleep at home much
The Black and Tans keep him too
much on the run. In fact, the young
men of the country are kept on the
jump most Of the time. For weeks
they do not have an opportunity even
to change their underwear"