The New York herald., 1921-12-08
Material and Moral Victory,
Says Supreme Knight
of X. of G..
d. F. COHALAN Is CRITICAL
Gavegan Sees in Agreement a
Step in the Direction of
Freedom.

! Opinion of the Irish agreement as
voiced here by persons who have been
specially interested in the Irish cause
continued yesterday to be generally
favorable, even enthusiastic. There is,
howeevr, a sharply critical minority,
notably including some of the leaders
of the organization known as the
Friends of Irish Freedom, whose bitter
feeling toward England is not ahated
and who say in effect that Ireland has
been duped. Expressions from various
quarters follow:
supreme Court Justice John Ford: 81
can scarcely believe the news, it is so
good. II true. Ireland has won the SD
stance of what she has suffered and
bIed for during seven centuries. Her
new status will entail momentous re-
sponsibilities and every friend of Ireland
should work to prove how wisely and
well the Irish can govern themselves.
| The lie must be given in practice to the
absurd contentious that any one would
suffer injustice on account of religion
or for any other cause"
James A. Fiaherty, Supreme knignt
of the Knights Of Columbus: 'If sue
cessive British governments honor the
agreement reached by the Irish states
men with Premier Lloyd George there
will be a happy end to the oppression
! that has marred Ireland's life for CEN
! turies. I believe Irish bravery and
! statesmanship have won a material as
we'll as a moral victory which only men
who are ignorant or malicious or both
| will attempt to Destroy"
/ rusu T,tf tata fri, -
| Court Judge. Brooklyn: IT am delighted
at the turn of events. The long delayed
! justice to the Irish people. however be-
lated. comes at an opportune time, the
| Christmas season."
James NJ. Power, United States Mar.
shall: 1T is almost too good to be true.
| The traditions for which the Irish
people have fought in manly way have
bsen lived up to-
Joseph A. Guider. acting Brooklyn
Borough President: II am sure that
friendship will be formed between Ire
land and England that will last for all
! time. The past will be forgotten"
Supreme Court Justice Edward J.
Gavegan; Evidently the Irish repre-
sentatives feel convinced that the agree
ment signed represents the best that
! could be done for Ireland under the ex-
listing circumstances in the face of su-
|
| throughout the world understand this
and will regard II as a step in the d.
rection OF freedom. II is difficult to see,
J however. that the name Irish Free
| State" is justified by the terms of the
| agreement itself. So far as substance Is
| concerned ] see nothing in che arrange
ment that Ireland for generations past
could not have had for the asking by
consenting to the violation of her terri
| torial integrity and swearing allegiance
! to the British crown.
There Is no doubt that the settle
ment will extend for n time England's
lease of empire throughout the world
II Is great victory for Lloyd George,
I'who at one stroke and at time of
| financial embarrassment has saved Eng
| land the cost of war and saddled Ire
land with a substantial share OF her ma
| tional debt, which II estimated on a
basis of population would amount to sew
eral millions OF dollars.
"As to the effect Of the settlement on
| American sentiment II should be re-
garded as signal TO guard more jeal-
ously than ever our inheritance of our
free institutions against the influence of
British and other foreign propaganda
| and warning 10 our statesmen 10 heed
the mandate OF the people given in the
last Presidential election against en-
tangllng alliances"
Victory for Lloyd George.
Supreme Court Justice Daniei +, Co.
halan. member National Council. Friends
OF Irish freedom: Lloyd George has
won the greatest diplomatic triumph OF
his career. He has braced up the tot
tering British Empire for the moment by
! attaching to II an apparently satisfied
/ q homes In
quence. as the London papers and their
echoes here show. to proceed now to
| similarly attach America. He seeks
through these actions to get for his
country the breathing space she must
have in order TO survive.
But his triumph Is dexterous rather
than solid. He has, IL is true, kept the
substance OF power and given his mex.
perienced opponents only the shadow. but
he has been compelled TO recognize the
essential right OF the people OF ireland
10 determine their own form OF govern
ment What that sorely harassed people
may do in the near future is not of much
moment. What England's friends abroad
may say. or even those OF ireland who
permit their emotions TO sway their iudR-
ment. Is of even less consequence After
the first burst OF emotion has passed
/ the question will be whether or not a
! rfttiSHltuN pIl TIC llilfS OF NnaI NuNOCHf Cd
by the late John H. Redmond. though
| now called with English genius by other
and -, poplar names, will satisfy the
! aspirh .,ns OF the people who have fought
for liberty for hundreds OF years. am
/ satisfied that II will not do 80. I know
/ that whatever may be the outcome there
are no forces or influences outside Amer
! lea which can by the settlement OF for
eign questions influence the constantly
increasing ranks Of those here who be-
lieve that American liberty can be pre-
served only by avoiding all entangiing
alliances with any Old World Powers.
| 'Notwith standing the sanguine hopes
OF London, America can no more be
hooked up with Europe through a So
called Irish Free State than 1t can
through England herself"
Disrmuid lynch. National Secretary
Friends OF Irish Freedom, who fought
for Irish Republic In Easter week. 1916,
and who was later deported by the
British Government because of his ac-
tivities as Slim Fein food diroctor--"The
agreement made between the Irish rep
resentatives and the British Cabinet
simply amounts to promise Of in.
creased power to ireland over her do.
nestle governments-home rule In other
| worde--With northec stern Ulster rtfli