The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-05-08

the, empire or becoming compiled
separated, the Irish people themselvs.
would decide it was in their own inter-
est that the link should not be con-
p1etely severed. But there IL q yer
vital distinction between ireland re
naming part Of the union under com
pulsion and remaining from, her ow
choice: Whatever form Of union ma
be maintained. should be arranged b
negotiation and not as the, result e
the greater power Of tic predominant
partner -
Admitting, however, that in til
present unhealthy and abnormal. at
mosphere an immediate decision o
this issue might not be a true reflex o,
the considered opinion Of the majority
Of the Irish people, the labor com
mission consider that the Briti4h COY
eminent should acknowledge tho pol
icy Of self-determination for tTelant
just as in the case Of the self-g%vern.
ing domintons, but that the cohetitu.
ton comforting self-goNernmenf or
Ireland should not be subject to AFevi.
sion by the Irish people until &fte,
an agreed number of years, thus \giv.
ing them the opportunity to RETURN tc
a more normal and unprecedented stAts
of mind.
Alternatives Proposed: :
The commission considered tina
either Of the following alternative
would be acceptable to the Irish PEG
pie:
First. a full measure Of. dominion.
self-government, with provision 70:
the protection Of minorities-ques
lions Of defense and foreign relation
being removed to the imperial parlta.
ment. This scheme, while perhaps not
meeting with unanimous Irish ap.
prevail, 80 far as the commission could
ascertain, promised to be a solutt6r
that would secure the greatest meas
sure Of support, ana in this particula
respect had a decided advantage owe
the prime minister's present scheme
which meets with practically unani
nous disapproval. =; &
The second alternative, command
ing a substantial measure Of approva
in Ireland, is that the form of self
government to be established should
be decided upon by an Irish consti-
tutional assembly representing the
whole Irish people and elected on 4
system Of proportional representation,
charged with the task Of drafting the
new constitution and making prov4'
sion for the protection Of minoritiet- {
questions Of defense and foreign rela4
tions being reserved to the Imperial
parliament.
Economic Regeneration.
The commission insists that the ulti-
mate guarantee Of better relations be-
tween. the two countries lies IN. the
Irish people being convinced that the
economic Regeneration Of ireland
rests: in their own hands, and. declares
that it makes its proposal in the man
ner it believes the problem would be
approached by a labor government.
But labor, which, lies under no sus-
picion Of political cynicism In thus ap-
pealing to the Irish people to co-op-
crate in finding a solution, IL not ii
power and the Irish. problem is urgent
Believing that the British peopl{
desire Ireland to become a free part
ner in the British commonwealth Of
free self covering communities. Brit
ish labor. the report concludes, ten
ders these proposals in the, belief that
they will command the: assent Of thu
people Of Great Britain and prove ae-
ceptable to the majority Of the Irish
people, and the commissioners ap-
peal Is both nations to corporate in
carrying them into practical effect
without further delay.