New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-04
Congress May
BE Asked to
Curb Picketers
State Department Deter
mined. if Necessary, to
60 Outside Letter of Law
to Protect British Embassy
Plan to lombard Capital
Organizer Says Demonstra-
lions Being Perfected
Will 'Startle the Country

Frcn. The Trfbune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. April 3.-Antici-
pating a resumption next week OF the
picketing of the British Embassy by
the squad Of women sympathizers with
Ireland who staged yesterdays demon
stration. officials of the State Depart
ment continued to-day their search for
. definite provision in the law that
might be invoked to cover the case.
Although they are determined. if
necessary. to go outside the letter of
the law in order to protect the en-
be that Congress Will be asked 10 pass
definite legislation to prohibit demon
STATIONS Of this kind around the resi-
dences of foreign missions here.
The picketing was abandoned to-day
- abruptly as it was started yesterday,
although Mrs. Thomas j. Coliss. of
New York. who organized yesterdays
affair. said that other and more spec
tacular demonstrations were being
planned that would "%startle the coun-
try" She refused to say what these
demonstrations would be, although it is
understood that one plan is to 'bom-
bard" the national capital and other
large cities of the country with pro-
irish literature dropped from airplanes.
Not Frightened by Warming
officials at the State Department
pointed out to-day that we're the gov
ernment to permit the picketing of the
British Embassy to go unchallenged it
might set an example for similar dem
onstrations before foreign missions
wheneve there happened to be public
agitation over foreign questions. We're
such a thing to happen in one of the
smaller countries, it was said, the prob
abilities are that the entire diplomatic
corps, taking o~fense, would pack up
and leave.
Mrs. Corliss denied vigorously that
the warning issued BY the State De-
partment that it would adopt reflective
measures to break up the picketing
was responsible for the abandonment Of
the demonstration. Although other
picketers yesterday said that the dem
onstration would be continued indefn-
itely regardless Of threats, Mrs. Cor
iiss aid 1t was the original purpose
to limit the demonstration for the
time being" to Good Friday.
" have had every reason to be-
l!eve," she said. that the British were
planning a general massacre of Sim
Fem sympathizers in Ireland either
that day or Easter Monday, and we
Jul dSl4OI " SlduO as q warm
ing to the British government from
the women of America that, just as the
cruclfixion of Christ was responsible
Tor the launching of the Christian re-
ligion, so that crucifixion of Ireland
means the launching of a Worldwide
movement in behalf Of an independent
Ireland"
Picketers Leave Town
Practically all the picketers who
we're here yesterday, with the excep-
tlon of Mrs. Corliss and two or three
others. left town last night or early
TINS morning under orders, and
with instructions to hold them
selves in readiness to return when
needed. Miss Julia Emery, of Balti-
more, was among those who returned
home. Miss Mary Claire O'Brien. also
OF that city, who was expected over
mere to-day with the dozen or more
otner Baltimore women, was advised by
phone from Washington not to come.
Efforts to determine the origin of
the picketing movement, and the in
terests backing the women, were I'M
availing. Frequent long distance tele-
phone conversations between Mrs. Cor
liss and New York indicated hat the
movement was being directed from
that city, although this she would not
confirm. The picket headquarters is
located in one of the most expensive
hotels in the city, and consists of sew
eral rooms.
Mrs. Corliss said that women SYM
Pathizers Of Ireland are being organ
lied all over the country to AXE part
IN the agitation. She added that the
headquarters here would be maintained
to direct future demonstrations.
Wants Treaties Abrogated
What we demand" Mrs. Corliss said
IN answer to a direct question as to the
purposes of the agitation, "is that Con.
gress and the government abrogate all
treaties with Great Britain until such
time as England grants Ireland her in
dependence. There is no reason why
We should not. On five different occa-
sions IN various ways, such as the re-
cent reservation TO the treaty and the
grant Of hearings here and in Paris to
spokesmen for Ireland, Congress and
the government have recognized tire
right of Ireland to independence. More
ever, thousands of American boys who
went into the war under President