The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-08-14
BY CARL w. AcKERMAN.


Throughout the two years Of fight
ing which preceded the present
peace conferences between the
British government and the lead
crs of Sim fein the Irish never lost
their sense OF humor or the Eng
lish their poisc. At the very climax
OF the campaign in Ireland when 80
many members OF the Royal Irish
Constab abulary were being assassinat-
ed the British recruiting dopots pla-
cardcd Dublin with posters appeal
ing to the young men to Join the
Royal Air Force and See the
World" The first night those no.
tices greeted the Irish from public
buildings aud bilboards Il sim
feiner with his paint bucket put up
a new sign. reading: Join the Royal
Irish Constabulary and See the Next
World"
Il was during these same trouble
some days that Sir Robert Woods,
NJ. p, an eminent surgeon of Dub
lin, was riding in "A tramcar which
was held up in the middle OF the
street and searched by the Black
and Tans A young British officer.
who had Joined the auxiliary corps
entered the car to search the pas
sengcrs. AS he shouted to the men.
women and children to hold up their
hands he flourished an army pistol
In a manner which Sir Robert con-
sidered reckless
you ought to be more careful,
young man" said the representa-
tive OF Trinity college, that thing
might go off"
That's all right, old man." the
officer retorted. Il can soon reload
It,"
These two anecdotes illustrate the
two dominant characteristics of
these two peoples who have been
struggling for 700 years against the
inevitable recognition - <Ircland as
an Independent nation within the
British Empire. No matter what
The Irish did the equilibrium Of
British statesmanship was main
tainod, and each time the British
government made a move on the
rhcsshoard u negotiations or war
fare the Irish counter move was
master stroke. The Irish sense of
humor and British pOise prevented
the chcckmate until the hour ar
rived for the settlement OF the CEN
.ury-old score.
The events which led to the com
I promise and which made peace dis
Cusaions possible have not been dis
closed by the recent dispatches from
N London and Dublin. 1t is impos-
sihlc to attribute the SuCCcss Of the
present conferences TO any one man
Scores of prominent EnEllshmcn
lrishmcn an d Americans hav vo
Played their roles in the peace
drama With equal success. No one
man could have or did accomplish
I tn" gigantic task alone. Years ago
it might have been possible to make
peace between belligercnts, but the
last two years of Irish British his
tory show that durable peace can
not be made, but must evolve from
a fundamental understanding Of the
character and problems OF the pco-
pies ana nations involved.
The Inside story.
For nearly two years | have been
In intimate contact with both Brit
ish and Irish leaders. | have trav-
ulcd frequently in Ireland and be-
tween that country and England,
As a result Of first hand obscrva-
/ lions ! propose to relate, for the
first time. the inside story Of the
events which led to the truce and
10 the present conferences in Lon
don ana Dublin. Frequently on my
journeys | carried messages to Mr.
de Valera and Michael Collins. the
leader Of the Irish republican army
! brought the first message To Sir
James craig, the Ulster Primo min
lister, that Mr.. de Valera would meet