New-York tribune., 1920-12-09
Miss M'Swinev
Says British
Stir Sect w ar
Sister of Late Cork Mayor
Charges England Has kep.
Alive Religious Hatred
and Ruled Irish by Terror
L. S. Failed in Ideal
World Democracy Not Safe;
France Erin's BestFrierd:
Denies German Aid Tale

WASHINGTON. Dec S.-Charges that
the British government has kept alive
and continuously stirred religious
hatred in Ireland and has sought
through "reign OF terror" to starve
that country into submission, brought
to conclusion eight hours Of test-
mony to-day by Miss Mary MacSwiney
sister of the late Lord Mayor of Cork,
before the commission from the com
mittee of one hundred investigating
the Irish question:
g Miss MacSwiney told the commission
that she and Mrs. Muriel MacSwiney,
the Lord Mayors widow, had come from
Ireland to laid the commission in OBJ
tanning the true facts" She made the
prediction that Ireland would gain its
freedom even though "England had to
be beaten to the ground" Her sister
in-law will be heard tomorrow.
Miss MacSwiney punctuated her
story of the movement for Irish free
dom with the assertion that the United
Estates had not lived up to its ideal Of
"Eaking the world safe for democracy"
Will Forgive England
. I'VE are not disturbers," the witness
ssaid. eve want just to be left alone.
ave are not using coercion and we will
not be coerced. We simply want Eng
land to clear out; we'll forgive her for
everything if she viii only leave US
alone.
: 1--WE are going to get our freedom.
That every Irish republican knows, for
you cannot keep in continual slavery a
people every one of whom is ready to
die for his country"
Miss MacSwiney recountcd instances
which she said proved that the Brit
ish government was deliberately frino
$eligious hatreds, and added that there
would be no religious differences "if
the Protestants and Catholics were
left without outside interference.o
The Irish have not prosecuted anybody.
she asserted. adding that the peace and
prosperity of the large Jewish Quarters
in Cork and Dublin attcsted to that
fact- The witness said that "whcrc
there are no Black and Tan police there
reign peace and prosperity and
satisfied population
"The British government" Miss Mae
Swiney continued, has instituted a
reign of terror IN Ireland. 1t seeks to
destroy property and to throw people
out Of work. 1t wants to starve US
into submission. The Irish people
don't want war. If England viii get
out we will establish prosperity in oar
5epublic. We will keep our ports open
and promise to let none use them IS
. war base"
De Facto Government in Force
; Senator Walsh, of Massachusetts, a
member of the commission, propound-
ing series of questions, led the wit
ness to declare that a de facto govern
.nent had been created in Ireland, and
that under it the citizens Of the pro-
Sisional republic seek to govern them
selves. Also, under his questioning,
Miss MacSwiney said that tho British
courts "sat behind barbod wire barri-
eades and sandbags, surrounded by
Regiment of soldiers, waiting for cases
which never come" while the Irish re
publicans, she said, turn their contro-
versies over TO their own courts, SIT
ting in secret, and abide by their de-
cisions without further litigation.
Senator Walsh asked the witness 70
place in the record all facts concern
ing the formation of the provisional re-
public. it's declaration Of independence
and its method Of dealing with the
people. Another question ftom the
Massachusetts Senator brought the
declaration that the + -ory OF tae gov
ernment's creation round an eNact
parallel in the Declaration Of lnde-
pendcnce b. the thirteen American
colonies. To this she added that. as
swas the case with Americas carly
struggles, France was looked upon Is
4 the best friend of the Irish freedom
movement
Denies Tales of German Aid
. Miss MacSwiney told the commission
!