The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-24
The American Committee on
Ireland.
We reprint the following editoria

Ireland.
We reprint the following editorial
taken from the Chicago Tribune:
Joseph w. Folk has declined to
take the Craftsmanship of the Ameri-
can commission to investigate the
Irish question and has resigned from
membership. So also has Raymond
Robins. Many American friends of
the Irish believe that very serious
mistake has been made in the pro-
ceedings projected.
THE Irish embassy was invited to
be represented by counsel at the
hearings The invitation was a sug-
gestiOn that the British government
should consider itself on trial before
an American commission of citizens
and should take advantage of the
opportunity to defend itself.
That was an astonishing ConCep-
tion Of international relations. The
mistake of zeal would be appreciated
If the British retaliated with a com
mission of Englishmen to conduct an
inquiry into Acknowledgement in the
Southern states, invited DR.. Du Bots
TO conduct the case. and asked the
American ambassador to send u
lawyer To represent the United
States, or If the question of American
pledges of Filipino independence
We're investigated by a commission.
These are acts which nations try
to avoid. They defeat their purpose
and they have general effects which
may contain the greatest. mischief.
Enthusiasm for the Irish cause in
the United States should. in AmeTl-
cans. be subordinate to their Amer
ieanism, no matter how powerfully
their emotions are stirred or how
deeply their sympathies are engaged
The Tribune article, like many
others dealing with inquiries that are
being conducted by the United States
regarding the situation in Ireland. is
misleading.
The fact that Senator Walsh is
chairman of the American commits
sion to investigate the Irish ques-
ton misleads many into believing
that the committee of which Senator
Walsh is chairman is the senate COM
mittee, and that the inquiry is being
conducted on the part Of the United
States government.
II the Chicago Tribune and other
newspapers that print news articles
purporting to be evidence of English
cruelty in Ireland would state that
.instead of being an American COM
mission it is in reality a committee
of one hundred Irishmen who are
an eX parte inquiry, no
doubt for the purpose of enlisting
the sympathy of the American peo-
pie in the cause of Irish ambition
fer self government, there would be
no especial opposition and the pur-
pose of the inquiry would be under
stood.
Many of the stories that are print |
ed in this country regarding the sit |
uation In Ireland would indicate that |
the English troops are ruthlHssly |
the people Of Ireland with |
out provocstion, and as some of the |
witnesses testified TO before the COM |
imittee of one hundred, for the pur- |
pose of killing men and boys Of Ire
land as the most effective means OF |
putting down rebellion.
Perhaps the testimony given be-
fore this committee is true in many
respects. Perhaps it is not true in |
some respects. The difficulty one |
encounters in arriving at a correct
estimate of the situation lies in the |
fact that English authorities, as
usual, are saying nothing and are |
making no defense to the world. |
Whatever the situation may be, it is
not one in which the United States
should Officially concern itself.
Even too much activity on the part |
of unofficial organizations is likely |
to lead to complications. This, of |
course, is what a great many Irish |
sympathizers would like to see This |
was the object Mr.. DeValera had in |
mind when he visited the United |
States and attended both national |
political conventions and earnestly |
epdeavored to have both Republican |
and Democratic platforms commit the
two parties to a policy of sympathy |
bordering upon interven-
ton.
However much we may sympathize
With Ireland in her unfortunate sit
uation, il is no part Of this cOun-
try's business TO regulate or readjust
the situation, deplorable as it may
nM
enc American people in the recent
ELECTION placed a very positive STAMP
n disapproyal upon the suggestion
that the United States should un-
necessarily concern itself with the
affairs Of other countries. Perhaps
he verdict rendered at the polls was
! wise one At any rate. it was the
verdict of the people II was a YER
iict from which there is no appeal.
Certainly conditions in this country
are such as to require the best, II
not the undivided attention OF our
statesmen and public officials.
There are a great many problems
confronting the country that de-
serve to be settled before we go out
side our own province and before
taking on additional respopsibilities