New-York tribune., 1920-05-07
i. S. Assailed
LIN Commons
Over Ireland
Members Criticize Recep.
ton Given De Valera; !;
Term Them Insulting
and Seemingly Unfriendly
Government Won't Yield
Lord Birkenhead, in Upper
House, Says Sinn Feiners
Will Be Sternly Opposed

LONDON, May 6.Thc subject Of
the support given to "the Irish Repub-
lie" by some persons in the United
mons to-day Horatio Bottomiy
sked whether the government WAS
aware that appeals for sub
scriptions for bonds addressed by De
Valera as "President of the Irish Re-
public" were still appearing in Ameri-
can newspapers and were supported by
the governors of various states, and
whether Great Britain proposed to
make representations OH the matter to
President Wilson.
Mr.. Bonar Law, replying in behalf
of the government, said it was under
stood that such appeals were still ap
pearing in American papers, but he
was not in a position to say whether
they were supported by any Governor.
Great Britain, he added was not pre-
pared to make representations.
Asks About Huge Fund
Mr.. Bottomley asked whether Mr..
Bonar Law had seen the announcement
that already $10,000,000 had been sub
seribed 10 this fund and that triumph
ant professions had gone through the
principal streets of the United States
in celebration of the event and that
De Valera had been entertained by
state governors. He asked if Mr.. Bonar
Law did not consider that in interna-
tional law this amounted to an un-
friendly act and whether new instruc-
tionS would be given to the British
Ambassador.
The government leader said he had
not seen a statement of the specific
facts named. but it did not alter his
view regarding Great Britain's right
course, namely, that it was not always
wise to take action to which a country
had the legal right.
Captain William Wedgewood Benn
wanted TO know whether the govern
ment would take steps to halt the ma
licious campaign which, he declared,
between this country and the United
States. Mr.. Bonar Law did not reply.
Calls Action an Insult
Robert Burton Chadwick asked
whether Mr.. Bonar Law was aware
ored with the freedom of New Orleans
and whether any presentations had
been made to the United States in the
face of this deliberate insult by an
ostensbly friendly power"
Mr.. Bonar Law answered that he
was satisfied the good feeling of the
United States was not represented at
all by such demonstrations and he did
not believe that any action the British
government could take against them
would have any other effect than to
make the relations worse
In the debate in the House of Lords
Baron Birkenhead, Lord High Chan
cellor, on behalf of the govern
ment, said it was intended to
continue the policy of giving to the
Irish Executive ali possible assistance
and support. He added that in no con-
colvable circumstances would the gov
crnment concede the demands of the
Slnn Fem, and that the proposal to in
vite the Sim Fein to another Irish con-
vention was wholly out of contact with
any living reality.
The country would be well ad-
vised," Baron Birkenhead continued,
that we are faced by a body of desper-
ate. wellorganized and able men band
ed together to challenge British might
and to shrink from no means calculat-
ed to secure what they call self de-
termination and independence"
They had disdained every concession.
said Lord Birkenhead, and staked all
upon what the empire would never con-
cede to them.
Refers to United States
every single motive which led the
United States to resist the attempt at
secession would operate with even
greater force to determine this coun-
try" said the Chancellor, and he would
remind the Sim Fciners that the race
which had resisted the ight OF the
German Empire would not yield to a
section of desperate people in Ireland"
Iremler Lloyd George will not take
cosE:zancc OF the message from Amer
lean congressman relating 20 Ireland.
This sort of :hng has ceased to
cause any stir here" an official ct the
residence Of the Prime Minister said
mas morning. 1--WE long since have
<onie to believe that resolutions and
messages coming from America are
political mancuvers and that they do
not represent American sentiment
Consequently, they have little weight