Evening star., 1921-03-17
PRESIDENT REFUSES
TOILET us. TROOPS
PARADE W|TH|R|SH
Holds Part in Boston March
Might Tend to Influence
Foreign Relations. +,
CAUSTIC MESSAGE BRINGS
FIRM WHITE HOUSE REPLY
Backs Up Action Of Military and
Naval Authorities in Rejecting
Demand of Societies.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Demand of Societies.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
President Harding has had his first
taste of the Irish problem, and has
met the issue squarely by declining to
permit the United States government
to be drawn into any action that might
be construed as a recognition Of the
Irish republic.
Mr.. Harding received a telegram
couched in caustic terms. He did not an
swer it in person. but directed his secre-
tary to sign the reply. The message
which was sent by John F. Harrigan.
state president of the Massachusetts
Council o. the American Association for
the Recognition of the Irish Republic,
read as follows:
ITO President Harding: Gen. Ruck-
man and Admiral Dunn, i'm press state
ments today, say that to permit troops
to march in partisan demonstration.
especially one unfriendIy to another
nation, would be a serious breach of
international amity.
Cites Local Demonstration.
Evacuation day, March IL. is To-
cal demonstration of loyalty and pa
triotism that no devotee of toryism.
no matter how exalted his position,
can stop. Are these officials Ameri-i
cans or satellites of foreign govern
ments? Ruckman and Dunn asked the
officials of the Evacuation day parade
il the American Association for Rec
ognition Of the Irish Republic intends
to participate In the parade. When
they were told yes they warned
against, the parading with them Of
in service or reservists. Are they
autocrats or is this q democracy?
They say no authority can revoke this
decree. 1t is for Washington to say
whether they are supreme. As Amer
leans we demand action in the name
of 125,000 citizens of our state now
and the revocation Of orders from
Ruckman and Dunn"
Presidetas Reply In Firn.
of the foregoing snsssase ana also this
reply by Secretary Christian:
Your telegram has been called 10
the attention Of the Presidenf, and
he directs me to say In reply that
Army and Navy commanders have
their command. The government
raises no issue about the fitness OF
your celebration Of evacuation Aay.
and the spirit Of st. Patrick's day is
felt throughout our country. but the
naval and military forces Of the ma
tion can have no part in any DEM
onstration which may be construed
as influencing the foreign relations
of the republic.
The sending of the Harrigan mes
sfss to onE Mr. asSns was s, the 'S5ss Sss
President Harding decided that 1t
was time to make clear the position
Of his administration on the Irish
question. He himself feels the warm
est sympathy with the aspirations OF
the Irish people and. were une an In
dividual without Official responsible
ity for the conduct of foreign rela-
tions. he would gladly speak HIS
views, or even participate as he
pleased in any demonstrations in be-
half of the Irish cause.
Secretaries Uphold Actisn.
But as President of the United
and obliged daily to deal with the
government Of Great Britain, with
which the United States Is at peace.
he cannot permit anything to happen
which the British might make q SUBJ
ject Of Official complaint.
Secreta0H Weeks of the War De-
partment, who halls from Massa-
chusettS and knows the Irish influ-
ence in that state. Joined with Sec
retary DENLY Of the Navy Depart
ment in upholding the action Of Gen. :
Ruckman and Admiral Dunn, in re-
fusing to permit American soldiers
and sailors to march in a parade
where the flag of any unrecognixed
country was flown.
Mr. Harding during the last cam-
paign was regarded for a time AZ
likely to take an active part when
elected in furthering the aspirations
Of the Irish sympathixers. He did
not hesitate, however. when the issue
was put before him in October to
state that he regarded the question
ireland and Great Britain, and he
held that it was not within the
proyince of the United States govern
ment to interfere in any manner.
Many Voted G. o. r. Ticket.
Gov. Cox, on the other hand. said
he would agree to take the Irish
problem for settlement before the
league Of nations. and would. II elect
ed, bring it officially to the attention
of the foreign governments. This
was, however. not regarded by the
Irish as of any importance. because
they were ranged against the league
of nations itself. Notwithstanding
of Americans of Irish descent left
the democratic party and voted the
ticket. II by their votes
they hoped to influence Mr. Harding
into taking a stand when President
that he was unwilling to take a. !
candidate today's statement from thb
white House may be construed -
dashing to the ground any such
hopes. Mr.. Harding has made It
clear that he will not depart from
the policy pursued by President VIII
son of refusing to make an odlcial
issue of the Irish question.