New-York tribune., 1920-09-05
Is
In Last Stage
Of Weakness
Mayor of Cork Unable to
Talk to Relatives and
His Condition Is Now
Described as Critical
Physicians Are Alarmed
Wife Cables to Wilson,
Asking Him to Prevent
Outrage ON Civilization

LONDON, Sept. 4.--The condition of
Lord Mayor MacSwiney Of Cork, was
tonight described as critical. He was
In the last stage of weakness and un-
able to talk to relatives. but was con-
scious and his will power still strong.
His wife left him at z o'clock this
evening, apparently deeply anxious.
He has been on hunger strike since
August IL.
Mrs. MacSwiney and the Lord
Mayors sister, Mary, to-day called at
the American, French. Spanish, Italian
and Belgian embassies to ask them to
make urgent representations to their
governments. None of the ambassa-
dors was in town. The Belgian secre-
tary alone was found and he promised
he would report Mayor MacSwiney's
case to the ambassador on his return.
The prison doctors expressed great
alarm over MacSwiney's condition.
They advised his relatives that nobody
should converse with him to-day.
Not Allowed to Talk
The Lord Mayor spent bad night
and this morning was very pale and was
suffering from complete exhaustion,
being able to speak only in gasps. The
only indications that he was suffering
severe pain were that his brow was
considerably more shrunken.
Sean MacSwincy, his brother, re-
NAMED with him during the night,
and ether members of the family are
maintaining a constant watch.
Annie MacSwiney, the Lord Mayors
sister, on leaving Brixton Jail at 2:30
o'clock this afternoon, said her brother
was at his very lowest. Acting on the
Doctors advice, che did not attempt to
read to him. AS Miss MacSwiney left
the bedside her brother signifed that
he wished to give her a message. She
had to place her ear almost upon his
lips to catch the communication.
Wife Cables to Wilson
Mrs. MacSwiney has cabled Presi-
dent Wilson an appeal in behalf Of her
husband. She asks Mr.. Wilson to "use
your influence with the English govern
ment to prevent the preparation of an
outrage on civilization" She declares
her husband is dying in an English
prison"
The reasons why the government
will not release MacSwiney are given
III an official statement issued to-day.
They are that fresh attempts would be
made to continue, with added activity,
the long series of murders of police
men" and "would open the way to any
person imprisoned for any similar Of
fense to use the case of the Lord
Mayor as g. precedent. with GOOD hopes
of securing release and the opportunity
to repeat the acts which led to his in
carceration."
The statement continues: "Unless
the object oil the Lord Mayor and his
associates is to secure the secession
of Ireland-in which case no compro-
mise between them and the British
government is possible-the suffcrings
of the Lord Mayor, together with the
whole campaign conducted by him and
his associates of violent usurpation of
the machinery Of the government of
Ireland, are entirely unnecessary"
1t is pointed out that "the govern
ment has not only presented to Parlia-
mont measure conferrlng on Ireland
degree Of self-dete rmination in ad-
vance of any scheme proposed or
accepted by the elected representa-
tives of Ireland in the past" but the
Premier has declared explicitly his
willingness to discuss with any body
which can claim to represent Irish
opinion any proposals they put for
ward, so long as those proposals in
clude separate treatment for Ulster
and do not involve the secession of
Ireland from the United Kingdom, or
Continued on sase three)