The New York herald., 1921-01-09
DUBLIN SCEPTICAL
ON PEACE MISSION
Father O'Flanagan's Visit to
London ArOuses Little Sim
Fein Interest.

Special Gable to THE New YORK HEsup.
Copyright, 1921, By THE NEW YORK HERALD.
DUBLIN, Jan. S.--The sudden mission
to London of Father O'Flanagan who
has returned here is not taken seriously.
England apparently is placing more i'm
portance on his visit than Ireland, where
it is considered on a par with other So
called peace moves. Sim Feiners profess
to be amused over what is beng writ
ten about peace" and say most of ii
is inspired from Downing Street. Nor
do they propose any meeting of the Dali
Eireann. They believe that the gather
ing of the members would be the signal
for wholesale arrests. They insist that
the Dali Eireann Ministry has the sit
uation we'll in hand. and that there
won't be any formal session of the irish
Parliament until the peace terms are
ripe for ratification.
Moderate Sim Feiners still do not
take complete independence to mean an
out and out republic. but simply way
through long experience for the Irish to
get autonomy.
There Is no question now that they
would be satisfied with something similar
to the Canadian home rule arrangement.
But, says one. 1--WE are not going to be
the under dogs any longer. That much
is certain. and the quicker England
realizes 1t the quicker there will be
peace. We are now in the most critical
hour of our history, ana more than ever
we are determined to be self-govern-
ing, self-supporting people, able to hold
up our heads among the free nations OF
the world"
Aside from the tremendous undercur-
rent which one fairly feels in the atmos-
phere, Ireland Is quiet this week end.
Even the raids are conducted quietly and
with very little shooting, and there is
a marked decrease in outrages. Ireland
Is waiting for De Valera to speak, con-
fident that his policy In the midst of
peace talk will bring the fight to ths
desired head.
DUBLIN, Jan. S.-Statements likely to
cause disaffection to his Majesty" in
documents alleged to have been written
by Father Dominic, chaplain to the late
Lord Mayor MacSwiney of Cork. or to
have been In possession of Father DOM
inic. we're read at the opening here to-
day of his trial by a field general court
martial. Father Dominic was chaplain
Of the Republican Guard and spiritual
adviser to the late Lord Mayor.
The charges against Father Dominic
are based on certain passages In a note
book and in a letter. Father Dominic
refused to recognize the court, but re-
served the right to cross-examlne wit
nesses and to make a statement after the
close of the proceedings The court
entered a plea of not guilty for him.
The letter touches on the activities of
the militant Sim Feiners, execrates the
Crown forces and refers to the recent
tragic Sunday in Dublin, when fourteen
lf,.tt rt- rtto
sassinated. as terrible but wonder
full day." II asserts that the boys got
the leaders of the B. and T. rBlack and
Tan1 reprisals," and goes on to say
that the Crokc Park shooting which
followed the Killing OF the auxiliary
officers was ordered as reprisal by
Macready. Tudor and the remnant Of
the reprisai committee" II also de-
clares that ut was decided to assas-
sinate Larry O'Neil 1.-THE name of the
Lord Mayor OF Dublinl that night.
The second charge Is based on the
memorandum alleged TO have been
found ir Father Dominic's room II
was headed. ireland an Invaded Ma
tion,' and hegan: "All the inhabitants
of every nation unjustly invaded are
bound to resist the invader. And the
nation Is considered to be at war with
the Invader"
Father Dominic continually protested
that the court had not the right TO try
him. maintaining that he should be tried
by an ecclesiastical court, and, IL found
guilty. should be turned over to the
civil court. Many of his objections to
the admission of evidence were sus-
tanned.
Father Dominic was guarded through
out by a sergeant with drawn revolver
and two troopers.