The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-10-03
yIsCoUNT GREY AND THE IRISH PROBLEM

The proposals put forward by viscount Grey
for the solution of the Irish problem are we'll
worth careful oonsideration by England, Ire
land and the entire civilized world. II would
bo easy to in them u confession on the
part OF Britain that her attempt TO conciliate
or subjugate the Irish is n failure. hut that
would not be the sincere. candid view to take
OF the mattor.
The point OF the matter, important at least
to those of us on this side OF the Atlantic, is
that an honorable offer from a very high British
source has been made the Irish nationalist.
One. too, that enables them to realize all that
practical reason grants them. Therefore there
remains to be considered only the question of
good faith on the part OF England.
The viscounts suggestions fall under three
heads to wit:
I. Definite announcement that Great
Britain I'D Ireland can have only one for
eign policy one army and one navy, and
cannot stand actual separation any more
than the northern and southern states Of
America .,|4.
2. Irishmen must be as free as the
British overseas dominons TO settle how the
country shall be governed,
3. The British shall continue 10 perform
as best they can the functions OF admins
tration for n period not to exceed two years
At the end of that time. or sooner II Ire
land ie ready. the British administration
shall withdraw and the responsibility for an
Irish government shall be placed upon
Irishmen themselves,
We say the proposition Is entitled to the most
careful consideration OF all concerned. The
reference to the north and south in the first
paragraph clearly indicates that the statement
was intended for American consumption. but
that does not lessen It's importance.
1t will at once be asked why England should
Justice has demanded for many, many years.
That however, is a matter clearly left open for
negotiations as tho words "if not sooner GER
tainly imply,
The point IL that the Irish nationaliss can
not reasonably hope to more than is
here tacitly offered them--the fullest possible
tclt-government The United States could not
view with complacency IA Cuba completely inde-
pendent OF Washington. 1t would be suicide
to do so. And yet Cuba Is as free and inde-
pondent In fact as the United States itself: and
her dependency on Washington in the realm Of
foreign affairs IL quite as advantageous to
Havana as to Washington,
Public opinion, especially In America Is vigil
lanty on the side OF the Irish In their present
dispute with England, But thar public opinion
would not continue to run with the Irish to
the extent OF demanding that England volun-
tarily drive the knife into her own vitals That
would be the result of an ireland with no con-
nection whatever with England, competent to
organize Irish army and build an Irish navy;
competent also TO negotiate treaties with the
enemies OF England who would instantly seek
treaty alliances avowcdly urfriondIy to the in
| tercsts OF England
! 1t is easily possible for one to sympath
| deeply with Ireland without embracing the doc
! trino that England should fall. 1t is easy to
! abhor the imperialistic policy ~ Britain withou,
! agreeing TO the abhorrent doctrine that she
should be forced to walk the plank OF national
| dccadence. And It is also easy for an Ameri-
! can citizen TO admire the intense patriotism o!
| the British without wishing In the remo,est de-
gree that his own government should emulate
the hypocrisy and selfish impcrialistc designs
! which animate the entire governmental struc,
ture OF British statcsmanship.
II the British government endorses the pro.
| poaa's % Nisoount Grey the way at Iast seem.
10 he open FOR an Irish English raprochment
that should eventually not only remove the last
vestigo OF bitterness but grow into an unassai
able friendship based on the lnterdependenc c,
of one with the other, That is a contamination
devoutly wished By friends Of both England anC
l lrelaI'A