The Washington times., 1920-01-24
Cop. ALARMED BY
SIMS CRITICISMS
Likely to Drive Irish Vote Away,
View Of Republican
Politicians.

According TO Justin McGrath. edi
torial correspondent OF the Universal
Service, Admiral Sims IL worrying
the Republicans more than he Is the
Administration and Secretary Dam
iels. His criticisms OF Secretary
Daniels and the Navy Department are
not regarded by Republican leaders
as contributions TO the party's politi-
cal cspitaLs On the contrary. Repub-
lican opinion is that Admiral Sims is
submarining Republican strength.
He 10 thought to be rapidly alternating
from the party the Irish vote.
IL IL we'll known Irish-Americans
generally have been out OF sympathy
with the Wilson Administration be-
cause OF President Wilson's advocacy
OF the League OF Nations without
making any provision for Irelsnd's
independence.
Viewed ax Impossible.
The view OF the Irish element has
| been that with the League OF Nations
In operation and the United States .
member OF the league the establish
ment OF an Irish republic. which is
the design of the Sim Fein, would
be practically. impossible.
They also have believed as pa
ttiOllC lHdl II "oulu DC
| most inimical to the best interests
OF the United States to have this ma
tion tied up in an agreement with
Great Britain which would impose
upon the people of this country an
| obligation to defend the territorial
| integrity of the British Empire.
Therefore they generally have an
| tagonized Mr.. Wilson's policy. The
feeling OF opposition they have mani
tested has been so strong, and avow-
ed with such persistence. as to in
| spire hope among the Republican
leaders that the Irish vote would be
completely detached from the Demo-
cratic party in the coming Presiden-
| tial election.
Blurs Pleasant Prospect.
Admiral Sims has been blurring this
pleasing prospect. Admiral Sims has
criticised the Sim Fein even more
\ severely than he has criticised the
| adm nistration Of Secretary Daniels.
His criticisms have brought out sew
cral extended replies from the sh
national bureau. These replies have
been printed in pamphlet form and
have been circulated all over the
United States. The controversy be-
| tween Admiral Sims and the Irish is,
therefore. we'll known to every Celt
| in America. The basis of the contro-
| versy was stated in a letter addressed
| to Admiral Sims by Daniel T. OCon-
nell as director of the Irish national
| bureau under date of November 8,
1919 Mr.. O'Connell, in his letter to
Admiral Sims, said:
| Burden OF Attack.
The burden OF your attack is as
| follows:
."(A). That Sim Fein was pro-Ger-
| man and that IL not only failed to
contribute toward the winning OF the
war. but positively sought to prevent
success by the allies;
"(B). That this active pro-German-
ism showed itself in attacks upon
American sailors In the streets Of
Cork:
"(C). That President de Valera.
| Of the Irish republic, now in the
| United States, Is. one Of this same
brotherhood and consequently repre-
sents a cause unworthy of American
| encouragement and support:
"(D) And. Indirectly. but mono the
less clearly, that American citizens in
large numbers are supporting morally
and financially a movement which Is
inimical to the best interests Of the
United States"
OCOnucl COntcnucO tuat uOHC
of these statements was founded in
| fact that that they constituted q
gross libel on the Sim Fein. on Pres
ident de Valera, and on the American
citizens who are supporting morally
and financially the movement for
Irish independence Mr.. O'Connell
charged. furthermore, that the alleged
false allegations made by Admiral
Sims against the Sim Fein, its lead
ers, and its American sympathizers,
were prompted by his pro-British
sympathies, strong manifestations Of
which Mr.. O'Connell cited, among
them the admirars noted Guild Hall
speech Of 1910. The Irish-American
Bureau was so indignant over the
charges Of Admiral Sims against the
Irish people that 1t called upon Sec
retary Daniels to discipline him.
Now that Admiral Sims has at
tackled Secretary Daniels administra-
tion and the navy during the war by
publishing a series of astounding al
legations Of incompetency and favor
itism, he has put the Republican pol
iticians in Congress in q most embar-
RAISING position.
II Secretary Daniels should sudden
ly conclude that the best interests of
the navy demanded the presence of
Admiral Sims on the Isle of zap,
Americas newly acquired possession
in the Pacific. the Republican politi-
clans undoubtedly would be greatly
relieved and would heartily indorss
the assignment