Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-31
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF ONE
HUNDRED ON IRISH CONDITIONS
\ IS MADE PUBLIC IN WASHINGTON


hearing all the testimony, the com
mission finds that the Irish people
are deprived of the protection of
British law, to which they would be
entitled as subjects of the British
King. They are likewise deprived Of
the moral protection granted by in
ternational law, to which they would
be entitled as belligerents. They are
forces which, acting contrary both to
all law and to standards Of human
conduct, have instituted in Ireland "a
terror" the evidence regarding which
seems to prove. that:
II. The imperial British govern
ment has created and introduced into
ireland a force Of at least $4,000 men,
many OF them youthful and inexperi-
enced. and some Of them ~convicts,
and has melted that force to I'M
bridled violence.
"2. The imperial British forces in
Ireland have indiscriminately killed
innocent men, women and children;
have tortured and shot prisoners
while in custody, adopting the subter-
fuges OF refusal to~halt' and attempt
Ing to escape;' and have attributed to
alleged Sim Fein Extremists the
British assassination Of prominent
lTlSn repuDllcanS.
"3. House burning and wauton de-
struction Of villages and cities by i'm
perial British forces under imperial
British officers have been counte-
nanced and ordered by officials Of the
provision by gasoline sprays and
bombs has been made in a number OF
.instances@4for systematic incendiarism
rs part ola plan Of terrorism.
"4s A~campaign for the destruc-
ton Of the means Of existence of the
Irish people has been conducted by
the burning Of factories, creameries
crops and farm implements and the
shooting of farm animals. This cam.
political views of, their owners, and
results in widespread and acute suffer
ing among women and children.
IS. Acting under a series of proc
lamations issued by the competent
military authorities of the imperial
British forces, hostages are carried by
forces exposed to the fire of the re:
publican army; fines r levied upon
towns n villages as punishment 70,
alleged offenses of individuals; priv
ate property is destroyed in reprisals
no connections; and the civilian popu-
lation is subjected to an inquisition
upon the theory that individuals are
in possession of information Valuable
to the military forces of Great Brit
ain. These acts of the imperial Brit
ish forces are contrary to the laws OF
peace or war among modern civilized
nations. a.
".G. This terror has failed to re.
establish imperial British civil gov
eminent in Ireland. Throughout the
greater part of Ireland British courts
have ceased to function; local, county
and, city governments refuse to recog,
nize British authority, and British
civil officials fulfill no, function OF
service to- the Irish people.
go. In spite OF the British terror
the majority Of the Irish people have
sanctioned by ballot the Irish re-
public, give their allegiance to it; pay
taxes to it. and respect the decisions
Of its curtis and of its civil officials
An Important Subject.
The commission also declared thai
''the situation in ireland was a prope,
subject sof concern for all people,
claiming either humanity or civiliza:
tion," saying that lit appealed par.
ticularly to Americans so closely
bound by ties of blood and culture to
the irish and English people," Un.
less moral force could prevail to end
the terror in Ireland, the commission