Evening star., 1921-04-01
BRITISH EMBASSY
Z,
REPLIES TO IRISH
Committee of One Hundreds
Conclusions Are Called
"WhoIIy MisIeading."

Conclusions Are Called
"WholIy Misleading"
The British embassy takes issue
mission OF the committee Of one hum
dred investigating conditions in Ire
land IN a statement issued yesterday.
The general conclusions are "biased
and wholly misleading" the state
ment, which follows, declares:
THE report of the commission on
conditions in Ireland is entitled to ex-
actly the amount OF weight which
should be given to any judgment
based entirely upon the evidence of
ex parte statements put forward. for
the most part, by persons admittedly
holding extreme views. 1t is biased
and wholly misleading, both in its
general conclusions and in the state
ments it contains in matters OF de-
tail.
The facts speak for themselves.
Ireland Is Prosperous.
ireland, so far from being a dew
,, astated country. is the most prosper
GUS part Of the United Kingdom and
probably of the whole of western
Europe. Separate trade statistics for
the various parts of the United
Kingdom, forming, IS they do, one
| fiscal unit. are not readily available,
but a reliable index to the general
prosperity of the country can be
| found in the returns of deposits in
joint stock banks. which have in
creased as follows:
1912. 147 million pounds sterling;
1919. 1855 millions; 1920. 200 millions
This prosperity continues and is
I'D in
and that mainly in the north-by
the general industrial depression.
Actual Facts Set Forth.
The actual facts with regard to
specific points raised in the report OF
the committee are as follows:
The total ration. strength of the
crown forces is $1,000. The anteced-
ents of all recruits are carefully in
vestigated and no man of known bad
character is retained for a moment.
There has been no indiscriminate
killings; men have been shot through
falling to halt when challenged by
sentries and innocent persons. includ-
ing women and children, have suf-
fered death or wounds in course of
armed conflict resulting from unpro-
Voked attacks made by Sim Feiners
upon forces of the crown in crowded
streets. Apart from these and SINH
lar lnadvertent casualties. the record
of the crown forces is absolutely clean
so far as women and children are con-
cerned.
Reports of torturing of prisoners
have been completely disproved wher-
ever attempt was made to bring for
ward tangible evidence.
There are the strongest grounds
Tor attributing to extreme Sim
Feiners the murders of prominent re-
publicans. such as Lord Mayor Mac
Curtain of Cork and the mayor and
aldermen of Limerick.
Minimixes Attacks.
THE practice recently adopted of
carrying hostages has entirely full
filled its sole purpose, namely, to
minimize murderous attacks on the
crown forces and to prevent loss of
life. Captured documents show clear
~ ITS restraining effect. No woman
has ever been carried as a hostage.
The military authorities have de-
stroyed as legitimate penalty the
property of persons who are known
to have been able to prevent serious
outrages. but did not do So
Fines are not levied on towns and
villages.
Some months ago the authority of
the law had been entirely over
ridden throughout a large paN of
Ireland. This is no longer the case.
so-called Sim Fein courts have
everywhere ceased to function and
there are no republican civil officials
who are not in hiding. The regular
assize courts were held throughout Ire
land in the month Of March.
The votes polled by the Sim Fein
or republican party at the general
eiection IN 1913 represented. in spite
or widespread intimidation, less than
half a million out Of an electorate of
nearly two millions. In addition they
secured twenty-three uncontested
seats, but the total electorate of the
constituents concerned, which was by
than 100000" ~ ''
The report of the committee laws
stress on so-called reprisals and ig-
nores the fact that before even the
irish propagandists suggested. in
September. 1920. that reprisals were
takng place. s2 policemen. IL soldiers
ana 23 civilians had been murdered
in cold blood. and 159 policemen. Sc
soldiers and "a civilians wounded. in
most cases without a chance of de-
Tending themselves. BY the same
date 1.200 buildings had been burnt
and wholly or partly destroyed.
Sim Feia's Position.
"Sinn Fein has established its posi-
tion by the terror Of the revolver.
which has silenced the moderate opin :
ion of the vast majority Of Irishmen n.
1t desires to claim for. the Irish re-
publican army the status Of belltger-
ents, ignoring the fact that the men,
bers Of that force constantly, indeed
invariably. violate the laws Of war as
recognized by every civilized commu-
nifty. in a manner which, according to
the same laws. justifies the penalty
of death for all offenders.
Their methods are those Of the as
sassin. their deadly work is done by
stealth. by persons in the garb Of civil
ians who move about under the pro
lection of the law until the moment
comes for the attack and who, imme.
diately after killing their victim. re-
vert to the aspect and demeanor of
peaceful citizens. Expanding bullets
are frequently employed by these Sim
Feiners. Increasing pressure by
crown forces has succeeded in forcing
them more and more to abandon the
method Of individual assassination in
favor Of organized attack by armed
bands. but the furtive character Of
their activities still continues.
THAT the crown forces, under al
most incredible provocation patiently
borne during many months, have on
some occasions broken the bonds of
discipline and committed unjustifiable
acts of violence is not denied, but to
say that such acts have been ordered,
encouraged or condoned by the Brit.
ish government is absolutely false.
The interests which suffer most by
acts of indiscipline are those of the
government itself"
GIVE RELIGIOUS ASPECTS.