Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-12-22
ENGLISH WOMEN ARRAIGN
CROWNS IRISH POLICIES:
INSINCERITY is CHARGED
Mass of British Opinion
Not Behind the Govern
nent i'm Present Policy
Toward Ireland, Dec
laration of Witnesses.

Washington, Dec. 21.-An ar
raignment Of the coalition gov
ernment for what was described
as ''its lack of sincerity in it's
policy toward Ireland" was pre-
sented Tuesday by two English
women to the commission of the
committee of 100 investigating
the Irish question.
Miss Ellen C. Wilkinson. of Manches-
ter. one of ten women who investigated
conditions in ireland for the Women's
international league. declared that if q
referendum we're taken it would be
found that the mass Of British opinion
was not behind the government in its
present policy toward Ireland"
Public Wants Sim Fein Plan
Mrs. Annot E. Robinson, of Manches-
ter, joined her in the declaration that
while the public was ready to accept the
Sim Fein plan of an irish republic,
ireland can be won yet" if the govern
ment adopts a sincere policy. Both
women indicated their belief that do
minion home rule would prove the final
solution of the Irish question.
Little scraps of nations are opposed
by the English as inviting struggles te-
tween masters" Miss Wilkinson said.
adding that the ''fear of other powers
using Ireland for military bases prob
ably would prevent the English people
from willingly accepting the complete
severance of ireland from the United
Kingdom"
Recite 0utrages
Both women told of the entering of
homes and the destruction of property
in Ireland.
Miss Wilkinson described reprisals by
the military IN Cork, which, she said,
she witnessed in October.
''At 10 o'clock at night she said,
"the curfew sounded and the streets
became quiet with startling suddenness,
Lights were cut off and up the street on
which my hotel was situated, came q
body of infantry in extended formation.
A searchlight from the end of the street
played upon their glistening bayonets
and steel helmets. Three armored cars
followed and behind them came lorries
filled with men. The troops moved with
precision and discipline through the quiet
streets. Suddenly they commenced fir
ing, methodically, into the houses. They
marched back and forth and until 3
o CLOCK Tue HP6L uOEuiuk J. SOuII near
constant firing and the challenges Of
sentries"
American Consul Scored.
Mrs. Robinson told of the refusal of
American Consul Wells at Manchester
to wise the passports to America Of her
self and Miss Wilkinson. After the re-
fusal she visited the office of the consul
general at London, she said, and when
she returned to Manchester her passport
was vised after she had promised not to
"engage in propaganda or to give inter
views for the newspapers"
Destruction Of cooperative industry
and agriculture in ireland is deliberate
effort by the military to force emigra-
ton of the young men, Miss Wilkinson
said. Lord French, she said, had de-
clared that Ireland could be pacified if
the 100000 too many young men"
would leave.
The commission Wednesday will hear
Misses Annie and Susan Walsh, sisters
in-law Of the late Lord Mayor McCur-
tain. of Cork, who left the city the day
after the burning of the business section
Of Cork.