Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-10
ARTICLE 10 AND IRELAND.

IL is a little interesting just at this stage to re-
call some of the statements that were made not SO
very long ago with reference to the purpose and
scope OF the famous article 10 of the covenant OF
the League of Nations. Among other things, that
article was denounced by some opponents Of the
League on the ground that it was a device of the
British government intended to insure to Great
Britain the assistance OF the United States in sup
pressing the Irish revolution. The pledges includ-
ed in that article under which the signatory pow
ers agreed to respect and preserve as against ex-
ternai aggression the territorial integrity and po-
itical independence of each other was held to in
volve a pledge on the part of every ~signatory power
to aid IN the suppression of a domestic revolution
wherever it might take place. This Interpretation
of course involved the theory that the Irish ques-
ton would be included in the consideration of the
nations under this article Of the covenant, and that
it was the desire of Great Britain to use the power
of her neighbors in order to force the Irish people
to remain in subsection to the British crown. w.
The United States did not join the League Of
Nations and is therefore not interested in any of its
provisions but some so other nations did join. The
League has been in operation for almost three
years. During that time disturbances in ireland
have been continuous until quite recently. A
movement for the establishment of a republic was
pushed until at least the form of such republic
came into existence. British authority was de6ed
and a condition of warfare in Ireland prevailed.
The United States, of course, not being a party to
the League covenant did not enter into this situa-
ton at all, but all OF the other powers did. In
NHdt case has tnele Dceh SHOWN any tendency on
the part of the League Of Nations to interfere in
the Irish question. France, Italy and Spain are near
by and quite powerful nations. ireland is right at
their doors. They had subscribed to article 10 with
all that it involved, but i'll the gatherings of the
League and the meetings Of its committees there
has been not even a hint that any nation was ex-
Pected to assist Great Britain in retaining the
sovereignty over Ireland. There has not been the
slightest hint that if the Irish republic movement
seemed likely to succeed any nation would inter
fere with it. The whole theory Of the obligations
involved in article 10-a as set forth by the irrecon-
e'liable opponents to the covenant is thoroughly
exploded by the actual development of the past
three years, and the case of Ireland furnished a
signal illustration of the fact that the statements
made with reference to the scope OF that article
were utterly without foundation. Any part of any,
nation may secede from membership in that nation
il it is physically able to do SO without the slight
est obligation under article 10 involving any power
which has signed that covenant. The article by it's
own express terms involved only matters of ex-
ternal aggression. Domestic revolution is not in
Guided in it either in form or in spirit, and was not
intended to be included.