Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-11
A TRUCE IN IRELAND

"A N END OF violence and disorder and dis
"A sension In Ireland Is necessary not only
for the peace Of Britain but for the peace Of
. large part Of the outside world. The Irish
question cannot be buried or thrust aside or
forgotten.
Succeeding Governments and succeeding
Premisrs have tried these methods consist
emily for generations. The stubborn old
politicians Of q vanishing school have said
that there was nothing to grant, nothing to
arbitrate, In the neighboring island. Others
have tried kindness and generosity while re-
fusing to recognise the basic principle
around which the trouble ragged. Meanwhile,
the Irish question persisted and grew. 1t
has widened and found way into the poll
tics Of far dominions. 1t has become an
issue In Australia and in Canada. 1t GER
tainly has become something Of a political
issue in the United States, whore 1t has
come to be the chief obstacle in the way of
those who perceive the need for continuing
close and friendly relationship and CO.
operation between the people Of the United
States and the people Of Britain. And there
is on each side 80 much passionate convic-
tion. so much good logic and 30 much sin
cerity that no man can decently formulate
final opinion without first having a pro-
found knowledge Of Irish history and
sympathetic understanding Of Irish affairs
The problem confronting Lloyd George
and the leaders Of North and South ireland
is an inheritance from the far times when
statesmen everywhere were less sensitive to
popular feeling than they are now. 1t has
become complicated BY faulty handling. by
intense religious feeling and by conflicting
natural factors which sharply divide the
people Of the North from the people Of the
South.
Ulster Is industrial and practical minded,
and II claims to own and create almost two
thirds Of the wealth Of the country. 1t in
cludes approximately one third Of the popu-
lation. The other two thirds of the Irish
people are more race conscious than their
Northern eountrymen and more influenced by
race tradition. Ulstcrmcn are fond Of
saying that they don't want to be
governed by dreamers who would rather
sing or play or write poetry than do a good
days work in a MILL Yet the unbiased
travellers who know the Ireland of today
ordinarily are moved by admiration for
Ulster and by something like love for the
more wistful and imaginative South.
The unhsppiest factor in the present COM
plication Is the deep and seemingly in
eradicable line Of religious difference that
divides the people. Yet 1t ought always to
be remembered that there are numerous
Home Rulers and Republicans in Ulster
just as there are influential groups Of Union
lists in the South.
It has been a long time since any really
representative Enslishman desired to with
hold Home Rule from ireland. But in Eng
land. even among those who accept unqucs-
tioningly the principle Of self determination,
the instructive reaction to tho suggestion of
an independent Irish Republic has been much
like that which in this country would follow
the expressed desire Of one Of the coast
States--say New Jersey-to secedc from the
Union.
Suppose" say the British. "that some
future Government in ireland should ally
itself with enemies Of England7'
To this very natural question the Irish
reply that unity Of sentiment in all the
British Isles would come more quickly with
Irish freedom than without it. At least
this Is the argument Of the Sim Fein
leaders. Majority opinion. however, favOrs
n modern sort of Dominion Government and
separate PARLIAMENT. To that principle
Ulster virtually agreed. though 1t demanded
and received n Parliament of its own which
is intended to work harmoniously with
Parliament Of the South. How to adjust two
Parliaments and see to it that the interests
and susceptibilities of both sides are unhurt
Is the problem Of the hour in Britain.
Meanwhile, the British Empire is chang
inR It's Government Is not now and prob
ably never again will be wholly centralized
in Downing Street. Political thinking In
England Is being profoundly influenced by
the feeling in Canada, In Australia and in
Africa, just as political thinking in Wash
ington is responsive to the feeling of tn"
various States. The British Empire is as
suming form suggestive of United States
OF the World. and the Dominion Premicrs
who have been comforting in London appear
- h.u~ ,rorLad determinpdly tO makc of
ireland a contented and progressive unit In
the empire Since the conference Of Pre-
miers opened there has been noticeable
Improvement in the administrative methods
Of the Lloyd George Government In the in
surQent areas.