The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-21
PASSPORT WAS
OEN|EDW0MAN
Mrs. Robinson, Of Manchester,
Tells Committee of Gag"
Promise Given.
REFUSED TO WISE PAPERS
Vice Consul Wells Held Up Visit
Until Pressure Came
From London.
REFUSED TO WISE PAPERS

SOUTHAMPTON, England, Dee.
2I-The Cunnrd liner Aquitania.
which arrived here today from New
York, was searched by secret SER
vice agents for Enmon de Valera,
president OF the Irish republic, who
was reported to be on board.
The detectives were unable TO
find my trace Of De Vnlern, and re-
ported that they were satisfied he
was not board.
Francis Wells, American vice con-
sui at Manchester, England, refused
to wise her British passport to 90 to
the United States and testify as to
her observation of conditions in Ire
land on the ground that the United
States was mot encouraging inquiry
into affairs in Ireland" Mrs. Annot
f. Robinson, of Manchester, a men,
Der of the Women's International
League of England. told the Ameri-
can Commission on Conditions in Ire
land when it resumed its sessions at
the Hotel Lafayette today.
Mrs. Robinson, who with Miss
Ellen c. Wilkinson, also of Manches-
ter and also a delegate here from
the English organization, were the
witnesses before the commission to-
day, severely arraigned the British
policy of coercive terrorism in Ire
land. She declared the British agents
in Ireland are fighting the Irish re-
publicans by u) terrorism, (2) de
struction of Irish agriculture, manu-
facture and trade and (3) propaganda
ESTABLISHED OWN FACTS.
These facts, she declared, were
nd h,yL
other members of commission sent
to Ireland by her organization during
a two-weck tour, which included Wis
its to Balbriggan and other towns
sacked by crown forces.
When United States Vice Consul
Wells refused to wise her passport at
Manchester, Mrs Robinson testified
today. she went to London, where she
saw Copsul General Robert p. Skin
ner. He, she said. told her Wells mad
no right to refuse the wise and got
into telephone communication with
Wells. after which he instructed her
to present her passport to Wclls
again.
BREAKS "GAG- PROMISE.
On her second visit to Wells. she
said. he again hesitatcd to sRyror"
the passport, finally doing so nf,r,
would not give out newspaper inter
views make any speeches while In
this country.
He had no right to demand that
promise, and 7 do not intend to keep
it, Mrs. Robinson declared.
She was interrogated by Senator
Norris and Walsh as to whethcr
Walsh was an American or an Eng
lishman.
81 do not know" she replied. "Hc
had nm American accent, but nm Eng
Iish policy,
EXPLAINED HER VISIT.
Mrs. Robinson said that wells made
his Hrst refusal to wise her passport
nfter she had explained to him that
II had been granted by the British
government without the slightest oh.
lection and that her visit to America
had the sanction OF such lending
members of the british Parliament
ms Lord Henry BcntnIck. Sir John
simon. Commander henworthy, md
Mrs. Swnnuwick.
These latter, she explained, are
members Of the committee for peace
in ireland. which meets daily in
London and at present is advocating
withdrawal Of the British armed
forces in Ireland at least to the sea-
ports and cessation of the rcprisals
campaign.
when Wells refused his wise, sho
said. only n few days remained before
the vessel on which she and the other
members OF her delegation haC
booked passage to the United Statea
sailed and only her hurried trip TO
London enabled them to depart OF
schedule.
The commission gave no indica-
tion Of what action might be expected
as q result of Mrs. Robinson's state
ment Of this official Interference bv
an American but since Senators
Norris OF Nebraska and Walsh of
Massachusetts,, are membe>s OF the
commission and were sitting TODAY
il is not believed the incident will he
passed over unnoticed, and Il was
understood today that the state De-
partmcnt might be called upon 70.
explanation.
FIRST WITNESS OF DAY.
Mrs Robinson, the first witness OF
the day. said she and Mrs Wilkinson
came To this country to appear be-
fore the commission to tell OF IN,
investigation In Ireland made by the
British Branch OF the Womens Inter.
national
In discussing tho British opinion
IContinucd on Rage =, Column T.,