The New York herald., 1921-04-22
SINN FEIN LAUNCHES
HOME RULE VETO
Act Called Dishonest, IllusOry
and Insulting Denying
National Unity.
COUNCIL CALLED A SHAM
Irish Unionists in South APP
peal for Postponement Of
the Elections.
New York Herald Bureau.
Iopfion. April 2I.


Speciol Co6Ie 10 TIVE NEW yosK HERALD.
Copyrioht. 1891. BIZ THE NEw YoRK HERALD.
While even the warmest supporters OF
Lloyd George among the southern Irish
Unionists are appealing for postpone
ment OF the elections under the Home
Rule act, Sim Fein has issued a mani
festo for the first time ..oticing the act.
calling it dishonest, illusory and insult
ing"
Although the request for the post
ponement OF the elections was discussed
by the Cabinet to-day. no decision was
reached. The question will be discussed
again next Thursday r-remier Lloyd
George informed the House Of Commons
to-day that the question was under con-
sideration, and added that IN case
postponement of the elections was de-
cided upon an opportunity would be
given the House to discuss the matter.
The southern Unionists are convinced
that Sim Fein can make good it's boast
of showing UP a universal refusal by Ire
land TO accept the Home Rule act by
sweeping the elections TO be held In the
south The Government seems corfident
ii can carry the northern six county
area. although Sim Fein lis counting on
such a substantial minority there that
when they refuse to sit in the northern
Parliament it will be farce. too.
Called "Amorphous Hybrid"
The Irish Bulletin, the official propa-
ganda sheet of ths Dali Eireann, first
attacks the division caused by the
Home Rule act, declaring that it. gives
the veto power TO the British minority
in the north, and says that Ireland as
whole is so per cent. Sim Fein and
20 per cent Unionist. as shown in the
last local elections. and that even the
six county area is 35 per cent. Sim
Fem Thus 1t figures that minority
which gets the veto power is only IL per
cent of the total.
There are no organic links provided
tetwen the two fragments" the Bullett'i
says. "rhey are not, like either the
c.intons OF Switzerland or the States OF
the United States. federated together
under central parliament possessing
7. ajor powers In government. finance,
trade and defence, thus maintaining
strong, effective national unity. The
nominal link called the Council OF Ire
land is sham. 1t Is exhorted to con-
slider anything 1t likes in vacuo. but its
actual functions are infinitesimal Even
in these matters. as In It's academic de.
bates, it faces permanent deadlock. be-
ing composed Of an equal number from
northern and southern ireland in spite
OF the enormous disparity in popuia-
ton"
Britain Gets "a p. G. of Taxes.
II charges that the powers over trade
and commerce have been reserved by
England so that the population, instead
f.. af..a ta nNh hnf a
country In the world" must diminish be-
cause OF immigration. and shows that
England will collect ~ per cent OF the
Irish taxation including that which Is
a large factor in the living costs.
1t shows that the entire distribution
OF Irish revenues when once collected,
rests in the hands "of joint eXchequer
board" where the southern Ireland per-
manent minority Is one in four II also
says that this amazing board viii hrst
examine and determine the taxable ca
pacity of ireland after the act has been
two years In operation. with England
taxing Ireland as she sees At and despite
the fact that twenty years ago a royal
commission reported Ireland as being
consistently overtaxed in the ratio OF
20 to H.
The Bulletin then points out that dur
ing the first three years the Ministries
of the Southern Parliament cannot use
a single policeman Of their own when
il is most necessary to their authority,
IL il ever should be sustained without
going hat in hand and humbly pray to
the Lord Lieutenant for a loan OF
Black and Tans. Add 10 this that the
Parliament could not control its own
courts where office and preferment
would again be used 10 break UP the
Nationalist spirit and for making law
tyranny"
The statement concludes: The act Is
grotesdue. IL was originated In sus-
picion, fear and hypocrisy, and when
IL has served. IL IL can be made 10
serve. It's purposes OF deception II VIII
be abandoned. ireland opposes 10 1t
her simple demand for recognition as an
independent state"