The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-20
ROB Shields or
CREDIT For IRISH
FREEDOM MEASURE
Votes Down His Bill and
Passes Another Which Only
Expresses Sympathy-Sen-
atOr Gets Letter of Praise.
eY CHARLES S. HAYDEN.

WASHINGTON, March 20 CSpl. 1.-THE
activities Of Senator John X. Shields,
Of Tennessee, in behalf Of Irish free
com. have gained him the generous APP
probation Of Irishmen all over the eoun-
try. Letters and kilograms are pouring
into the office Of the Tennessee sena-
tor, and most of these are highly COM
plimentary, hailing him as the greatest
friend Ireland has in this country.
It's true that the reservation finally
adopted by the senate affecting the
freedom OF Ireland was not the one
presented by Senator Shields, but was
offered by Senator Gerry, of Rhode
Island II was Senator Shields however,
who introduced the first Irish reserva-
ton and the strongest one. This was
done on March 16, and it was voted
down. The action of the senate in thus
voting down the Irish reservation APP
parently caused much commotion IN va
rious parts of the country Senators
who had voted against it began to hear
from their constituents and this prompt
cd a keen desire to change the record
they had made.
Accordingly when Senator Gerry, who
had voted to table the Shields reserva-
I ton, presented a reservation yester-
day somewhat milder and only slightly
different in verbiage from that of the
Shields reservation, 1t was adopted
The Irish, the country over, however
apparently Are ready to give the credit
where 1t rightly belongs, to the senator
from Tennessee. They realize that it
was Senator Shields who blazed the
In speaking of the Gerry reservation,
Senator Shields said:
Mr.. President, some days ago ! Of
Tered a resolution in behalf of Irish
independence that meant something
that had teeth in it; that had red blood
in 1t; but the senator from Minnesota,
prompted by the senator from Florida,
moved to lay it upon the table, which
was done, and thus free expression of
the opinion of the senate was prevented
upon the direct question, which deeply
regret and deplore.
"The reservation under consideration
practically expresses nothing but sym
pathy. II Is almost colorless The
Irish nation have had sympathy enough.
What they wantNis action. They want
help for freedom and independence,
! Something with substance in it. | am
I going to support the reservation as the
pest expression of the American senate
in favor Of ultimate Irish independ-
ence that can be obtained at this time,
s However, there is one word in it that
HIS. of doubtful meaning. in view of the
peculiar organization of the government
pf the British empire. 1t has been con
fended here that a number of the colo
4fhies OF dependencies of Great Britain
Are self -governng; and they are large
BY, in local affairs. But in the con-
troll of foreign affairs they are not
Great Britain controlling all the for
eign affairs of these colonies, under
he prerogative of the crown, never
Granted to the several colonies.
M There should be no doubt about this
AArwa 1lN 4 Ia,
Government, but independence. There.
fore | move to strike out the wore
fself- government and insert the wort
independence.
The reservation offered by Senator
Shields was as follows:
"The United States further under
Stands that in fufilmeht and execution
pf the great principles of self -determi
nation of peoples and equality of al
governments said to pervade and under.
sa3ie the covenant of the league of ma
|tions, Great Britain will forthwith rec
ognize the existence and political in
Independence of the republic of Ireland
ahd agree that it shall become mem
Bier of the league of nations with equa
Representations accorded to all othe
Sovereign and Independent govern
ments."
ND The reservation by the senate yester
Day Is as follows; #
Hull "In consenting to the ratification o
Ahe treaty with Germany the Unite
States adheres to the principel of self
determination and to the resolution o
Sympathy with aspirations of the Iris
people for a government Of their owl
fhoice adopted by the senate June
1919, and declares that when such gov
trnment is attained by Ireland, con
Illumination, it is hoped, is at hand,
yshould promptly be admitted as
member of the league of nations"