The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-25
FRANCE SHOWS FRIENDSHIP FOR
 IRISH PEOPLE
Censorship of Former Days Is Being Slowly
 Raised.

The press of France during the war suffered from official strangu- lation at the hands of a censorship severe beyond comparison with our voluntary methods in America. Even during the days when all Paris waited outside the closed doors of the Peace Conference the continental editions of American and English newspapers were read in preference to those in the French language.
 Consequently, when the claim of Ireland to be recognized at the Conference was already figuring large in the American press, French publications were forced for req sons of state, to maintain a dis erect silence. In some few official quarters this veil of obscurity per sists. But with the passing of natural and historic sympathy of the French people for Ireland has begun to manifest itself.
 The traditions of Celtic culture in France have persisted from the middle ages in the sympathetic at titude of the Republic to expatri- ated Irishmen of several genera tions. From the days of SarsfieId ard tie Wild Geese" the Irish Brigade in France perpetuated the spirit of devotion to the cause of liberty In the American Revo- lutiOn Lafayette brought to this country DilIon's and Wa1sh's regf- ments of chivaIric Irishrnen. France also inspired those republican impulses in Ireland which led Theobald Wolfe Tone to organize the United Irishmen of '9S under the tricolor which has become to- day the symbol of Irish national aspiration.
 And now, again, with the return to comparatively normal existence, the periodicals which serve as forums for public debate in Debats IiInformation, Etudes, and Le Correspondent, are pub fishing reviews of the Irish situa- ton, covering in detail the deveI- opments which have occurred dur ing the period of compulsory sill ence for the press. The existence of an Irish Republic established by popular vote is regarded very gen. orally in the French press today as an international problem. Even such semi official organs of the French Government as the Paris Temps, urge a final and definite solution which will conform with the ideals of international justice In French publications of every kind there is a growing inclination to include the demands of Ireland among those which must be given thoughtful attention by the world before a lasting peace can be estab- Iisned.
 Disinterested friendship between nations, untrammeled by political expediency, is perhaps not to be ex- pected2 but it is a striking fact that sympathies and friendships, often deep-rooted and abiding do exist between races and peoples. The recrudescence of this sympathy be- tween the French and Irish today is of particular interest since it has long been an open secret that the Franco British alliance is one of convenience alone. The oppor- tunity may yet present itself for France to foster the legitimate national aspirations of an old friend and at the same time to end for ever the fear of the encroa chments of a neighbor. It will be interest ing to watch the development of French popular sympathy and French national policy in regard to Ireland.
 It is going to be hard to tell whether the arrangement of war criminals in Germany is a trial or a ,,oDuIaritv contest