Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-05
U.S.. NOT FOR HOME
RULE FOR |REL AND
PLUNKETT FINDS
Chairman of Dublin Convention
Also Discovered Strong Anti
English Sentiment in u. s.
Barred HUN PLOT HERE

ny Associated Press to Every EVENING
Dublin, March 4.-Sharp criticism Of
the new Irish Home Rule bill was expressed
by Sir Horace Pllinkctt, chairman OF the
dublin conyention at n welcome home
dinner given in his horror here tonight by
the Irish Dominion League. During his
address, Sir Horace, who has Just returned
from the United States, gave bis impres-
sions Of the American attitude toward
Ireland. A large number Of persons prom
incnt in Irish affairs attended the dinner.
Long before tho war broke out" be
said, Il was convinced the peace of the
world and the orderly progress, if not the
survival, Of western civilization depended
more than any other one thing on mutual
understanding between the British com
monwealth Of free nations term pre-
fer to the British Empire and the great
Republic Of the West. How far Germany
timed Armagefldon with an eye on Ulster
let historians say. But IT Is matter of
personal knowledge that from 1911 the
Prussian government was organizing a
German Irish Alliance in American
politics with view to tho coming at.
tack upon the worlds freedom.
II have not the least doubt TINT. sup
posing the Irish trouble had nothing 10 do
with the beginning of the war. if was an
important faetor IN delaying Americas
decisive participation in the struggle.
TO the same cause was due great deal
of political embarrassment 10 the war
administration n Washington. remember
the question being actually raised whether
the American navy could wisely utilize
Ireland as its hase Of operations. Though,
happily, strategic considerations oyerrllletl
political objections, only the splendid
loyalty to America Of Irish Americans
epunteractnd the deep resentment caused
by contrasts ell too easily drawn between
the treatment of the northeast corner and
the rest ~ our country in conflicts with
the British government.
"lhe British people. the British Pariia-
rnent and all the British government know
this. Now and again some prominent
politician wins cheers by telling America
to mind her own business and talking
about her negro question. II we had as
many negroes IN this country as the Amer
leans have Irish In theirs, and IL these
eoiored people possessed the franchise
here, we should be no more silent about
that problem than the Americans are
about Ireland. | agree TINT il il undesir-
able for any alien legislative tody or Official
representatives of an alien government
TO indulge in Official utteranea. or actions
Of such nature, but what these people or
bodies rightly or wrongly may say or do
IL Of infinitely small Importance COM
pared with what the people in the
rrass think
I'm America / found more bitter anti
English sentiment than IN nil my forty
years OF observation. IA unconstitutional
due TO many other causes. ii was tangled
Il al -
~ expressed IN what / may call Irish
terms, Americans do not bother them
selves with details. They want ireland 70
have as large a measure OF self-goverr-
ment as is consistent with the safety Of the
British Empire, for which they IN calfner
moments recognize they are almost as
much concerned ~ the British They wish
to give the minority, particularly Ulster.
ample security from any possible, even if
oppression by the majority
OF the Irish people who differ from Ulster
IN economic outlook.
In my judgment, America does not
want Ireland to be an independent re-
public, but until the British government
ceases to break its promises to Ireland, the
sentiment of America viii be that the
Irish people are justified in asking any
thing they like"
Sir Horace criticized the Home Rule
bill because it gave Ulster and minority
Of not more than one eth OF the Irish
people virtual mandatory over Ire
and-a mandatory without responsibility.
'If the southern parliament took the
trouble to be born" he concluded, '.it
would probably christen itself a republic
md be Immediately carried out by its
indignant nurse. ireland would then
present, as a monument to British state
the spectacle of martial law over
he greater part of country that de-
nands Home Rule, and Home Rule in
he northeast corner, which never asked
or it,