The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-28
President Issues Statement on
League Nations as Affect !
ing Irish Question. 1
ANSWERS SWARTz LETTER
First Public Document in Pres
idential Campaign Issued
at White House.

washington, sept. zo.--frcsl-
dent Wilson today took his first
active step in the campaign to
aid Gov. Cox by issuing a state
ment on the league Of nations as
affecting the Irish question. The.
statement, issued through Secre-
tary Tumulty at the direction of
the president, took the form of
an answer to letter from Ed
win M. Swartz, of Los Angeles.
The statement was written by
Secretary Tumulty at President
Wilson's direction.
The White House letter was in reply
to one to the president in which Mr..
Swartz had declared the forces support
ing the republican ticket were contend-
ing that II Article X OF the league cove
nant was ratified. the United States
would be bound to support England in
holding Ireland under subjcction.'
What swartx Wrote.
SwartE wrote to President Wilson as
follows
The forces supporting tho republican
ticket are contending that II we ratify
Article \ OF tho covenant OF the league
OF nations We would be bound to Eup-
port England In holding Ireland under
subsection.
rs II not a fact. and so understood.
by the hiRh contracting parties. that
az the time the covenant was drawn
and approved. that Article was %
prohibit one nation from grabbing any
territory OF another nation?
And, also, Is II not true that when
you sair Article y was the heart Of
tha covenant. that you meant by that
the European wars had nearly an been
caused by national landgrabbers and
that this article would cure that eviIg
~. NJ. swARTz.''
e, Text OF Wilson's ettsr.
Secretary Tumulty by direction or
said:
In reply TO your letter OF the Goth
or september, | beg TO say that the
Identical questions contained in your
letter with reference to Article X aud
the right OF self determination, found
~ the covenant OF tho league OF ma
Tons, were placed ba'f n the p,es,dont
while he was on his W. starn trip last
ysar nnd tnlly answered BY, him The
president directs me 10 cGh your al.
tention 20 the following dLt ktluns and
answers given by Elm TO the n shs nj
that time which | think satisfactorily
answer your inquiries, The Questions
and answers are as follows; f
%, Under the covenant does tho IA Fl
lion ohligatc Itself 20 assist any MEN,
Der OF the league In putting down
s Fsp,,,as 81 ~ subjects OF conquered
II does nor
20. Under the covenant can thss nj.
lion independently recogniKa d Nuteri42
lnent whose peoples Aeek n achieve ur
have achieved their Independence from
"A. The Independent action Of tiics
government OF the United States IN a
matter OF this Kind IA In no way linn
Ted Or affected by the covenant Of the
va Under tbc covenant are those
subject nations or peoples only that are
mentioned In the peace treaty entitled
TO the. right OF self-detormination or
does the league possess the right 10
ACCORD similar privilege to other SUBJ
Ject nation or pcopief
"A. II was not possible for the peace
conference to act with regard TO tina
INSTRUMENTATION OF any territories
except those which had belonged 70 the
defeated empires, but In the covenant
Of the league OF cations Il has set 40
for the FIRST time In Article NI forum
10 which all claims Of self-determina-
tIon which are lnsely 20 disturb the
peace Of the world or the good under-
the peace OF tho world depends. can be
brought
20. why was the case Of Ireland
not heard AZ the peace conference. and
what Ia your opinion on this subject Of
SELF determination OF Ireland3
"a. The case of Ireland was not
heard Mt the peace conference because
the peace conference had no JuFisdic-
ton over any question OF that sort
which did not affect territories which,
belonged TO the defeated empires. MY
position on the subject II aeif-deterTnl-
nation for Ireland In Expressed IN ARE
tlcle XI OF the covenant. In which I
may say was particularly interested,
because II seemed to me necessary for
the peace and freedom OF the world
that forum should be created 20
which nil peoples could bring any mat
ter which was likely 10 affect the peace
and freedom OF the world
II sincerely hope that the above
questions and answers satisfactorily
meet your inquiries.
sincerely yours,
(Slgnedl
JOSEPH r. TUMuhTY.
Secretary TO the President