Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-09-09
British Attitude
Ia MacSwiney,C ase
Plainly Sci Forth

Mr. Bortar Law member OF the
British cabinet, issued statement
setting forth the government attitude
toward the Lord-3Adayor which shows
tern7inationNnot to release him. The
statement ig an official reply to the
Labor IRarty's appeal for his release.
threads:
1.-THE Lord Mayor was one of the
leaderssofsthe irish Republican Army
which has declared itself to be at war
withAthe forces OF the yrown, and ac-l
one ssof the seditiouy documents for
the Possession of which he was con-
yfe<ed, he and his followers were de-
termfned to pursue their end, asking
for no mercy andymakiag:. no conapro-
n4se. sss
HI was arrested. while actively
.condaicting the affairs Of a rebel or
IcouIt. Had he been taken at his
VOID and dealt with as an avowed
rebel, according to the universal
practice OF civilized nations he would,
having regard to the circumstances
Iof his capture. have been liable iin-
!mediately to be shot. Instead, he was
tried by %aslegally constituted tribunal,
;sentencedssto a moderate term of i'm
|prisonInent, and given at once all the
privileges OF a political prisoner.
from the foment of his. arrest he.
sought to defeat tho ends of justice
and to reduce the forces of the crown
Ito impotence by refusing food. no
doubt in the belief that, that course
would leadtto his spasdy.relcass.
st is the clear duty OF the govern
;ment not only to take every step pos
leible to suppress disorder In irallnd,
tbut also to protest those brave men
who's in carrying out their duties has
servants of the crown are44-1n daily
fperil of 5their lives.
'Rckase Would Bctray{Loyal
Oniccrs.''
t'To release prisoners who, like .he
Lord Mayor, have been guilty of com
plicity in a movement which uses as
one Of its main instruments assassi-
nations apd outrage, would be Moth
ing short of betrayal Iof those loyal
officers on whose devotion to duty the
fabric of social order. in Ireland rests.
Since the arrest. of the Lord Mayor
lffteen officers have been brutally and
treacherously done to death without
even a chance Of defending them
selves. Surely the sympathy which
has been given in such full measure
ito the Lord Mayor, whose condition
has been brought about by his-own
deliberate act, is due rather to the
tUCEGdSSu "lAoVS diN 49,
murdered Irish policemen.
THE government fully realizes how
large a part sentiment plays in all
human affairs, and if it were possible
they would gladly have taken the ut
,}titude of the English king. who said
LOT an opponent. He is determined &c
make himself a martyr, and am
EQUALLY determined to prevent it.
lareat!y AS the government syn'pa'
thizes with those who desire to Se.t
Itpeace and order restored in ireland
[they cannot take a course, which. as
1.-THE prime minister has said. ,Woulo
down Of the whole machinery OF Law
land government. The policy of the
government has been naa1e cleal
from the outset, and if h Lore
Mayor dies in prison the responsible
aEty will rest in some degree upon those
who by their repeated appeals-shavt
Encouraged the belief that the GOV
|lernment would prove %insincere il
their determination, and the hops
that notwithstanding all declarations
TO the contrary his misguided actor
would lead eventually to his release
IL