Evening star., 1921-03-31
Unofficial Body of Committee
OF Hundred Puts All Re-
sponsibiIity on Army.
REPORT POINTS OUT LACK
OF ENGLISH SIDE OF CASE
Compares Alleged Atrocities to
Those Committed by Germans
in Occupation of Belgium.


disorders in Ireland is placed upon
the British government by the un-
official commission OF the committee
of one hundred investigating the Irish
question. in q thirty-thousand-w word
report made public today, and cover
ing the examination OF witnesses at
public hearings held by the commits
sion in Washington in November, De-
cember and January. The report has
been issued under the title of The
American commission on Conditions
in Ireland" which announces that II
will continue the inquiry.
Declaring that the commission was
under the disadvantage of lacking
the official British side of the case.
except as it was gathered from docu-
ments presented TO IL, the report de-
clares that "the imperial British army
in Ireland has been guilty of proved
excesses, not Incompatible in degree
and kind with those alleged. by the
Bryce report on Belgian atrocities. TO
have been committed by the imperial
German army" The Bryce commits
sion, 1t 10 pointed out. was similarly
handicapped.
Thirty-eight witnesses OF alleged
atrocities, including eighteen Irish.
eighteen american ana Two EugilSo
citizens. testified before the commits
sion. The commission admits that its
report is ex-parte. in spite OF its ef-
forts to hear all sides. The testimony
available. the report says, gives the
case, therefore almost wholly from
the Irish republican or Sim Fein
standpoint. or from sources not un-
sympathetic to the application of the
principle of self-determination to
IrelanA." The Ulster unionist view
point and that OF the British authori-
ties in Ireland. the report says. were
not represented among the witnesses.
Deprived Of Protection.
Summing up it's conclusions after
hearing all the testimony. the COM
mission finds that the Irish people
British law, to which they would be
entitled as subjects of the British
king. They are. likewise. deprived
of the moral protection granted by
international law. to which they
would be entitled az belligerents
They are at the mercy of imperial
British forces, which, acting con-
trary both to all law and to stand
ards of human conduct, have insti-
tuted in Ireland a terror the evil
dence regarding which seems to prove
that:
Il. The imperial British govern
ment has created and introduced into
ireland a force of at least $4,000 men.
many of them youthful and mex
perienced. and some Of them convicts; /;
and has melted that force to un-
bridled violence.
"2. The imperial British forces in
Ireland have Unfortunately killed
innocent men. women and children: !:
have tortured and shot prisoners
while in custody. adopting the sub
terfuges Of refusal to halt and at
tempting to escape: and have attrl-
buted to alleged Sim Fein extremists
the British assassination OF promi-
nent Irish republicans.
"3 House-burning and wanton de-
struction Of villages and cities by
imperial British forces under imperial
British officers have been counte-
nanced. and ordered by officials or the
British government: and elaborate
bombs has been made in a number
of instances for systematic incendar-
ism as part of a plan of terrorism,
~. A campaign for the destruc-
tion of the means Of existence or the
Irish people has been conducted by
the burning Of factories. creameries.
crops and farm implements and the
shooting of farm animals. This cam
paign is carried on regardless OF the
political views Of their owners, ana
results in widespread and acute SUI
fering among women and chiioren.
"5. Acting under a series OF proc.
,amations issued by the competent
military authorities of the imperial
British forces. hostages are carried py
forces exposed to the fire OF the re-
publican army; fines are levied upon
towns and villages as punishment TOT
alleged offenses of individuals pri-
yate property IL destroyed in reprisais
for acts with which the owners have
no connection. and, the civilian popu-
lation is subjected to an inquisltion
mon the theory that individuals are
in possession of information vaiua-
BILE to the military forces OF Grea,
Britain. These acts of the Imperial
British forces are contrary to the
laws of peace or war among modern
civilized nations.
&c This terror has failed to re-
establish imperial British civil gov
in Ireland; Thsoughout, o,,iah 1onris 1ns
have ceased to function: local. county
and city governments refuse to rec
,gnize British authority. and British
civil officials fulflll no function or
service to the Irish people.
tbe majority of the Irish people have
"a anctioned by ballot the Irish repub-
I;c give their allegiance to 1t; pay
-axes to it, and respect the decisions
If its courts and of the civil OH
Gals"
Ceucern OF All Humanity.
The commission also declared that
the situation in Ireland is a proper
,nhiect of concern for all peoples
.iaimine either humanity or civilixa-
ion saving that 'it appealed par
to Americans SO closely
,ound by ties of blood and culture to
ne Irish and English people" I'm
ess moral force could prevail to end
he terror in Ireland, the commission
,nInted out. physical force seemed
,ound to continue both to deny the
,ossibility of peace in Ireland and to
finnish the possibility Of non-inter-
,ention of our government in the
truggle."
"It seemed to u.s." says the commits
,ion. s'that ce could best serve the
ause Of peace by placing before the
Cnglish. Irish and American public
he facts of the situation. free from
9th agonfzed exaggeration and NOR
i understatement; for a knowledge
f the facts might reveal their cause
nd recognition Of that cause might
,ermit its cure. by those whose pur-
,ose was not to slay, but to heal,
In touching upon the events lead
ng to the present crisis. the report
Ieclares: The central fact in the
rish situation is the presence of the
British in Ireland. The British can
,oint to 700 years of possession OF
reiand and to 700 years spent in try
ne to pacify ireland, and the British
naturally desire to continue to pos.
ess Ireland. for they are proud o.
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