The Washington times., 1920-09-28
TAKES HAND IN
COX CAMPAIGN
President Writes Letter to Cali
fornian on Irish Issue As
Opening Gun.
ERIN NEEDS WORLD FORUM
Points Out League Would Be
Ideal Place for Her to
Submit Claims.
ERIN NEEDS WORLD FORUM

President Wilson today took his
first active step in the campaign to
aid Governor Cox by issuing a state
ment on the League of Nations as
affecting the Irish question.
The statement, issued through
Secretary Tumulty at the direction
of the President, took the form of
an answer to a letter from Edwin M.
Swartz, of Los Angeles, who wrote
asking what could be done about the
Irish situation.
WORLD FORUM NEEDED.
'Tt seems to me that Il is necessary
for the peace and freedom OF the
world that a forum be created to
matters which are likely to affect the
peace and freedom of the world" says
the. statement.
PresidAufs -sNnson,s letter to NF,
Swsrtz. signed by Secretary Tumulty.
follows: s
Mr.. Edwin NJ. swartz.
"515 Hollingsworth Bldg,
Los Angeles, California.
My dear Mr.. Swartz:
I'm reply to your letter of the
Goth of September, l beg to say
that the identical questions con
tanned In your letter, with refer
ence to Article X and the right of
self-determination. found in the
covenant OF the League of Nations.
were placed before the President
while he was on his Western trip
last year and fully answered by him.
!. The President directs me to call
your attention to the following ques.
tion and anwsers given by him to
the press at that time, which I
think satisfactorily answer your
inquiries. The questions and an
swers are as follows:
20. Under the covenant does the
nation obligate itself to assist any
member of the league in putting
down rebellion OF its subjects or
conquered peoples?"
"A. II does not.
"Q.-Under the covenant can this
nation Independently recognize a gov
ernment whose people seek TO achieve
or have achieved their independence
from a member OF the league?
"A,-The independent action OF the
Government of the United states In
a matter OF this kind is in no way
limited or affected by the covenant
of the Beague of Nations
"O.-Under the covenant are those
subject nations or people only that
are mentioned in the peace treaty
entitled to the right of self-dcter-
mination or does the league posses
the right to accord a similar privilege
to other subject nations or people7
Alt was not possible for the
Peace Conference to act with regard
TO the self-determinRtion of any ter
ritories except those which had be-
80 Aafo aunnfraa IA
in the covenant of the League Of Ma
tions IL has set up for the first time
in Article, XI, a forum to which sll
claims of elf-determination which
are likely TO disturb the peace OF tho
world or the good understanding be-
tween nations upon which the peace
OF the world depends, can be brought.
ANSWERS IRISH QUERY.
"Q.-Why was the case of ireland
not heard at the peace conference7
And what is your position on the
subject OF self-determination OF
iceland? =
'"A-The case of ireland was not
heard at the peace conference be-
cause the peace conference had no
Jurisdiction over any question Of
hat sort which did not effect terri
tories which belonged to the de-
feated empires My position on the
subject of elf-determination for
ireland is expressed in article XI
Of the covenant in which I may say
was particularly interested, be-
cause it seemed to me necessary for
the peace and freedom of the world
that a forum should be created to
which all peoples could bring eny
matter which was likely to affect
the peace and freedom OF the world.
~, Daao CoInrpn 4