Arizona republican., 1921-04-01
SAYS IRISH REPORT
 BIASED AND
 MISLEADING
Admits That Crown Forces Have, On Some Occa- sions, Broken Bonds of Discipline Under Almost Incredible PrOvOcatiOn
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON. March 31.-Gen- eral conclusions of the unofficial commission of the committee of one hundred Investigating conditions in Ireland placing moral responsibility for disorders there on the British government are characterized as biased and wholly misleading in a statement issued today by the Brlt- ish embassy in answer to the com missions report The report, the em- bassy statement said. was entitled to exactly the same amount of weight which should be given to any JudG- ment based entirely upon the evil dence of ex parte statements and put forward for the most part by persons admittedly holding extreme views.
 That the crown forces Gin 1reland) under almost incredible provocauon, patiently borne during many months. have on some occasions broken the bonds of discipline and committed unjustifiable acts of violence is not denied" the embassy statement con tinued, but to say that such acts have been ordered. encouraged or condoned by the British government is absolutely false. The interests which suffer most by acts of indis- cipline are those of the government itself"
 The Embassy's Statement The statement issued by the en- bassy said:
 Ireland. so far from being dew astated country, is the most prosper | ous part of the United Kingdom. and 1 probably of western Europe. A re- | liable index to the general prosperity I bA fra he returns of deposits of joint stock 1 banks, which have increased as fol- lows: In 1914, 14T, ,o0O, 900 pounds sterling; 1919, 1e6.00o,0 coo pounds sterling; 1920, 20o,oo0,o0o pounds sterling.
 This prosperity continues and is only affected in very minor degree and that mainly in the north-by the general industrial depression. The. report of. the committee lays stress on so- called reprisals and ig- nores the fact that before even the 1 Irish propa gandists suggested in September, 1920, that reprisals were | taking place. 92 policemen. 12 soldiers | and B civilians had been murdered in cold blood and 159 policemen. 5t | soldiers and "A civilians wounded. ir most eases without a chance of de lending themselves; 1900 buildin gs l had. been burned and wholly or part | ly destroyed
 Says Methods Those of Assassin The Sim Fein has established it.
 position by the terror of the revolver
 which has silenced the moderat,
 opinion of the vast majority of Irish
 men. It desires to claim for tho
 Irish republican army the status O.
 belligerents. ignoring that the mem. , bers of that force constantly, indeed
 invariably violate the laws of war
 Their methods are those of the as : Sassin.
 {. Increasing pressure bv crowr
 forces has succeeded in forcing then
 more and more to abandon the meth. ods of individual representation il
 favor of organized attack by arme, bands, but the furtive character O their activities still continues.
 That the crown forces, under al | most incredible provocation, patfentl-
 borne during many months. have n,
 some occasions broken the bonds O
 discipline and committed unjustifi ] able acts of violence is not denied bu to say such acts have been ordered A encouraged or condoned by the Brit i, ish government is false
 The actual facts with regard t specific points raised in the repor S or the committee follow: The tota
 ration strength of the crown forces i
 61,000. The antecedents of all re
 cru1ts are carefully investigated an T no man of known bad character is re S tained
 i Denies lndiscriminate killinq [ '"There has been no indiscriminat f 0 killing; men have been shot throug r failing to halt when challenged b
 sentl1es, and innocent persons. includ T ing women and children, have sui : fered death or wounds in armed con S flicts resulting from unprovoked at e tacks made by the Sinh Feiners upo s forces of the crown in crowde g streets. Apart from these and simiIa ,, inadvertent casualties. the record ( = the crown forces is absolutely clea
 so far as women and children al 1 concerned
 Reports of torturing of prisone,
 have been completely disproved whel
 ever attempt was made to bring fol
 ward tangible evidence.
 There are the strongest ground n for attributing to extreme Sim Feir
 CTS the murder of prominent Republ 1 cans sufh as Lord Mayor MacCul ! tain of Cork and the mayor and a
 derman of Limerick.
 l. The practice adopted of carryin IS hostages has fulfilled it's sole pui = pose, namely to minimize murderot IT attacks on the crown forces and O prevent loss of life. Captured docl !. ments show it's restraining effect. \ r. woman has ever been carried as
 l hostage.
 r. Says Conditions Improving = "The military authorities have d, r. stroyed, as a legitimate penalty, Il le property of persons who are known ,e have been able to prevent serious ou ', rage. but did not do so.
 Fines are not levied on towns ar
 villages.
 Some months ago the authori - of the law had been over -ridd, ul throughout a large part of Irelan to This is no longer the case. So-call D. Sim Fein courts have ceased to fun l. ton. The regular assize courts we sd held in March.
 "Votes boiled by the Sim Feine
 or Republican party at the gener
 election in 1918 represented. in spi 1h of widespread intimidating actioI I'd less than half a million out of Is electorate of nearly two million. re addition. they secured g uncontcst ls seats. but the total electorate co C. cerned, which was by no means Q by tirely Sim Fein, was less tn