The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-05-12
SELF PRESERVATION
Z. IS BRITISH POLICY,
SAYS LORD FRENCH
Geographical Position of Ire
land Prevents Giving Homie
Rule Similar TO Canada
nv Webh Miller

By Webb Miller
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
Dublin, (By Mail)-This Is re-
mort of a conversation-nota an inter-
view-with> Field Marshall French,
Viceroy of Ireland. Lord French IN
sisted upon making the distinction.
The Viceroy is evidently brave
man-morally as we'll as physically,
BECAUSE only few minutes before
the conversation he had drafted re-
pudiation of a similar conversation
with the correspondent OF London
newspaper as being "unauthorlzea
and a misrepresentation of what
passed"
Despite his previous experience
with Conversations the doughty
old Field Marshal consented to dis
cuss the Irish question for American
newspapers saddling the responsible
ity for whatever was published upon
the correspondent.
".You know, 1 never give inter-
views" he said. "Of course, l have
conversations with pressmen and
whatever they write is their own al
fair. But l am not responsible for
what they say said or did or DID not
say, and do not authorize anything
In a remarkably frank half-hour
conversation the Field Marshal dis
cussed the underlying reasons Tor
Br1tain's present policy toward Ire
land. He conveyed the impression
that the British policy is dictated by
that strongest Of human Instincts
self preservation, while the policy
from the physical standpoint is based
upon the geographical position OF
Ireland upon the flank OF England.
1--WE can't grant Ireland full self
determination" he said emphatical-
ly. "They're too close to us. Self
determination has it's limits. It must
be applied within reason otherwise
the nations of the world would break
up and eventually revert to some
thing like the ancient feudal system
if self-determination were carried to
extremes. For instance, the city OF
Dublin might say we will have moth
ing to do with the rest of Ireland
and the city Of Belfast might do the
same. l might sit here in the Vice.
regal Lodge and say I'll have nothing
to do with the rest of Ireland" he
added laughingly.
"Your people in the United States
are able to understand our attitude
toward Ireland If you remember your
War, of Secess. It's partly a question
Of proximity.
In reply to a question regarding
Dominion Home Rule, the Field Mar
shall voiced similar objections.
"They can't have Dominion Home
Rule. They are not dominion, they
are a part Of the United Kingdom.
We cannot give them a government
like that of Canada because they are
too close to us. It's largely a geo.
graphical question, the same as your
War of Secession"
I'VE understand and sympathize
with your difficulty with certain ele-
ments over there. know the United
States and love it and believe that
your people will understand our po-
sition and the attitude resulting from
it,
Having heard that the correspon-
dent had a long talk with Arthur
Griffith. the vice president OF the
Irish Republic" and the founder of
Sim Fem, only few hours previous
ly, the Viceroy manifested consider
able interest in the personality OF the
Sim Fein leader, and inquired about
his personal appearance and the i'm
preston that he created.
The Viceroy received the corre-
spondent in the historic Viceregel
Lodge which is unusually heavily
qua rded since the recent attempt up
on his life. The lodge is set in the
center OF a great enclosure in Phoe-
mix Park. In addition to the squads
which patrol the enclosure with fixed
bayonets day and night, the lodge is
surrounded by sentries.
During the conversation an armed
sentry paced up and down outside the
hig window of the Field Marsha's
study which commands a beautiful
vista of Phoenix Park with the low
dublin hills in the background. In
the distance other guards we're WIS.,
iole keeping the vigil over the Vice
roy.
Every visitor to the lodge is subject
to IN unusually close scrutiny. At
several stages Of the trip up the long
avenue to the lodge. visitors are halt
ed and re-examined before being
passed on to the next post.
At the conclusion of the conversa-
tior Lord French req affirmed his de-
ME: Of the report of his forthcoming
resignation.
'But you know this is no bed of
roses" he added.