Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-08
COMMISSION HEARS
MISS MACSW|NEY
America Urged to Gain the
Truth About Conditions
in ireland.

American aid for Irish independence
can best be exerted through effort.
to gain the truth about actual con.
ditions." Miss Mary MacSwiney. sister
OF the late lord mayor. Of Cork, de.
clared before the unofficial American
commission on conditions in Ireland a
Odd Fellows Hall today.
Miss MacSwiney was the first wit
ness called when the commission re-
sumed its hearings after. an inter
ruption OF several weeks, It had beer
the plan to first examine Mrs. Murie
but this was change6. Mrs. Mac
Swiney, who arrived here last nigh
with her ulster -in-law, will be heart
probably 4is Afternoon.
Dr., Frederic C. Howe presided, ant
announced at the opening Of the git
ting that sirce the last scssicn Of II,
commission MAI. Newman. former Com.
missioner Of the District: Senator
Georke W. Norris and Representative.
elect c. L. knight Of Akron, Ohio, hal
been added to the membership. Sen.
ator Norris was present at today.
hearing, as was Senator Thoma:
Walsh OF Montana, who has been in.
$, Irish Insufrectisns.
After giving brief resume Of he,
family history, in which she said shs
was born in England during the exil.
Of her father from Ireland for DO.
lined in detail the various insurrec
tions that had occurred in Irelant
since the "179s rebellion" when Vol
Tone, Lord Edward Fitzgerald ant
other notable, Irish Protestants start.
ed the first fight Of the Irish peopl.
for an Irish republic.
At the suggestion Of Frank p
Walsh. who appeared as her counsel
she confined her descriptions Of tn.
various instructions to matter en-.
tirely relevant to the motive Of thes.
movements, in which she distinctl,
defined the difference between an in
surrection and a rebellion. She sale
that the present Sim Fein movement
was nothing more than the continu.
alton of all other attempts of hel
people to secure their Independence.
"reminiscences Of her family's history.
! Her testimony was clean cut and
precise. She presented her views
with a huency and command o,
language that never left her at a loss
for word.
said. IT never heard Of Irish history
The history taught in the schools IL
not genuine Irish history. It has beer
since the time I attended
school and is in reality recitation
OF the activities Of England in Ire.
land"
Discusses the Sinn Fein.
Then she brought her narration te
a discussion of the Sim Fein move.
ment ~ +T 5i7
"Sinn Fein is policy. It is in Ire.
land just as you have republican
policies and democratic policies here
I'VE don't call ourselves Sim
Feiners. We call ourselves Irish re
publicans. Arthur Griffiths, vic,
president of the republic, is one of tn,
founders of that policy. But my
brother was. never a member of any
Sim Fein club. This was because
the policy was never expressedly re
publican.
The commission received word from
New York during the sessions tha
five former members of the royal
Irish constabulary. until recently en-
gagged in activities against the Sinr
Feiners. had arrived in the United
States to testify before the body.
Following Mrs. Muriel Macswine,
on the stand. which she, will take this
men will make sensational revela-
tions.
They resigned their posts, it is said
refusing to act further against Sim
Feiners. They volunteered to testify
before the Irish commission, it was
stated today, reporting to President
Eamonn de Valera, president OF the
Irish republic. on their arrival in
New York. f,