The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1920-01-17
ENGLAND HATES TO
HOLD IRELAND, CAN'T
TURN ISLAND LOOSE
By MARY HENkE.

LONDON, Dec. 27.-Lloyd Georges
plan for the settlement of the Irish
question has not aroused any notice
able enthusiasm in England, although
it is recognized as the best plan that
could be submitted.
The trouble is now that the Irish
don't want home rule, in fact that
they don't want any plan of any kind
submitted by the English and pro-
posal that might have aroused en-
thusiasm at one time has created only
antagOnism now.
Sim Fein supporters declare they
Will never agree to anything but a
republic and absolute independence
from England. 1t is yet doubtful
| whether the government plan to put
| internal affairs in the hands of the
Irish people themselves will prove
successful, for the Sim Feiners seem
| to be growing in strength. 1t is al
| most impossible for Dublin Castle to
trace violators of government regula-
tions.
The Sim Fein secret service has
shown a remarkable knowledge of the
plans of Dublin Castle, and orders are
anticipated by the Irish before they
| are issued.
| The attacks on Lord French, lord
| lieutenant of Ireland, started some of
| the more conservative of the rebel
element and violence has died down
somewhat since that time. The heads
of the Roman Catholic church in Ire
and were quick to declare they had
10 knowledge of the plot against the
life of the lord lieutenant.
The English public would be glad
to see the Irish get what they want
so long as England itself is not en-
dangered. People are getting sick of
hearing about Ireland. and the harsh
and unjust measures which were
have been generally denounced as
dangerous and inflammatory.
Country Enjoys Prosperity.
Ireland was never so prosperous as
it is at the present time. Most of
England's dairy and meat supply
comes from Ireland, and prices are
good. The Irish themselves give all
the credit for their present prosperity
20 the United States, which welcomes
the Irish immigrant and enabled him
to send money back to Ireland to help
his people out of poverty. If Ireland
ever gets it's independence, it's people
declare, it will be through the aid of
America. An Englishman may think
Boston is in Canada, but an Irishman
never makes mistake about Amer
lean geography or politics. His graft
tude toward the United States cannot
be doubted, and it is growing even
stronger since the war
The Englishman and the 1rishman
have never been able to understand
each other. In England a sense of in
Justice has been felt because Ireland
was not rationed or subject to con
scription during the war.
Many Irish boys went to the front
but too often the fathers and brothers
at home had common. sympathy witt
the enemy This fact has done i'm
measurable harm to Irish aspiration:
for an independent republic.
: Any broad-minded Englishman will
: tell you that he believes injustice has
: been done Ireland and that the ma
1 ton should have home rule, but HI
: will say just as decidedly that a re
public has been made out of the ques
tion by developments during the war
Opposition in England and the tn,
! home rule plan seems to be general.
, on a religious basis.
, War Breaks Prejudices.
. A certain prejudice against the EN-
: ployment of the Irish in London busi
i ness houses was swept away by tn
war when labor shortage made EN-
ployers glad to get Irish workers, AM
it may be possible that this in tim,
will establish more sympathetic rela
!. tions between the people of the tw,
e countries.
j. Egypt and India have also been pre-
senting serious difficulties to the go,
ernment. Revolts are going on dali
e and educated natives are going hom
# from England to preach rebellion t
e their people, There is always som
native orator in Hyde park appealin
to his motley audience for home rul
l. or independence, and he usually ha
" the support of the crowd.
Mon who have returned from 1ndi