New-York tribune., 1922-12-20
Free Ireland's
Warfare Just,
Says COsgrave
Nation Fighting for Its
life. 0ud Execution Of
the Rebels IL Necessary,
Head of State Declares
DenOunces Propaganda
Asserts Vicious Lies Have
Been Manufactured to
Hurt Cause in u. ;.
By William T. Cosgrave
oresident Of the Irish Free State

TE.A4fNAA ~ AfrN AfF~f+
,css,r,rht. issa. by Unnsd NeWU)
DUBLIN, Dee. IA position o.
trife IN ireland has been arrived AZ
snpiy because the chief politician OF
hs irreguiars has rot adhered 70 the
riueiple be laid down twelve months
80. namely. that We have "a eonsti-
usionai way Of settling our differences
nd We shouldn't depart therefrom."
Tbe fundamental question a. issue Is
ample. The Irish people have decided
save the life Of the nstion By ae-
.rptinr an equal status with other
,smbers in the commonwealth Of free
htions. But q small armed faction
sith the moral backing Of less than Z
<r cent Of the population. has denied
ken The right % DO this. In order 70
revent the treaty coming into force
.arst wagsd on them 8 kind Of var
nd now IS trying 70 produce chaos
y pillsge. arson and assassinhtion IN
4. vain hope Of preventing the Free
rste. nov finally established, from
Hnetioping.
,.,sshf Peace for Months
sFoY months We strove for peace and
1Iy when It vas evident there would
e no peace. we struck.
Even after striking We tried merely
wear out these men and show them
he futllity o. their action. and tried
4 conduct the fight with a minimum
rpenditure Of human life. Four Courts
,5ere taken without Q single occupant
eing killed. ,s
NJ touched. but rather emboldened
~ this restraint, the irreguiars con
ebtrated their energies on destrue-
ion. Objects Of no military value
shetever we're wrecked OF burned.
,fVi,ians we're taken from their homes
nd shot. Subordinate leaders were
uthorized % commander civilian
abor for destructive work and tncy
hot any who refused to obey. IN tne
rowdcd streets Of Dublin. Cork and
fher cities ambushes became an Al
aost daily occurrence, IN which civil
ana. including women snd children,
rere the chief and more often the
My sufferers Railway lines were
orr up, bridges and sigma boxes we're
estroyod and trains sent loose on the
racks in utter disregard Of danger 70
he public,
Lying Propaganda Started
Meanwhile, Tor consumption abroad,
lying. viciogs propaganda was SET
70 ovcrstraiued neurOtic womtn be-
NJ largely engaged in this work.
.oinuaun icatidHs were sent 20 America
aaligninq ord hbelng the govern
rent. stating, that prisoners were be
ne tortured. Antd on and wounded
loused In insonitary dwellings and 50
orth. Every possible falsehood and
raggeration was INDUCED In to de-
radc the Irish Official and public iiie.
The fact is that the government
ete8 toward prisoners with the utmost
cnicney.
Gradually Il became evident that the
evolutionaries. though their numbers
rerc dwindiing. were becoming more
Irresponsible and desperate and that
terner measures must be taken For
his reason the Dali authorized the
Establishment q military courts een-
owered 70 inhict the death penalty
or specific ogenses Then amnesty
rs offered an irregulars surrenderine
heir arms before a certain date. 4
org interval was SLOWED 70 elapse be
ore any such penalt was carried out
tut o. outroges still continued the
overnment had no choice but 70 act
nd four convicted men were executed
As there c8u dn't be one law for the
ssders and another for The dupes, anc
Erskine Childers. after waging Wal
. LIE
as taken with arms IN his hands. he
DO. was executed. Three other mer
rrested in connection with an attempt
0 blow Up the headquarters Of the
riminal investigation department.
rhich, " it had succeeded. would have
aid the street in ruins and slaiI
cores Of people-also we're executed
Drastic Action Necessary
Recently the irregulars began TO en-
ofce q program Of giving traitors
ate 70 the peoples representatives
Wo victims already have been elaine,
-sesn Haics killed and Padraii
1'Malle seriously wounded on thei
~ % Parliament. Assassinations be
|ng pert of a definite plan TO decapitat
be nation BY determination of the GOV
rnment and parliament, II was vita
NNN EAlnAtNNf CT ANE NANAuu ANA NN
oyornmcnt % show Ia D plain. dras
ie way at the very commencement %
etermination % preserve the lives o
he peoples reprcsentatiseA
-Four % the irregular leaders were
therefore. shot-not In a spirit Of win
ietivencss, not In hot blood. not evei
just anger. bat as part Of q definite
ollcy q counter action.
This decision was a terrible one 10
aeh and ever one Of us, but when tn
cry life Of Ireland as o nation is a
take it Is necessary that we should In
lieate unmistakabiy that We are pre-
,aTcd 30 use whatever force IS neces
Ary for its preservation.
The life n no man or set of mel
the country can be allowed % jeop
rdize the life Of the nation. Ire
snd's position may seem dark 81 th,
itnent. but the clouds are breaking
d, Free State is firmly established
be Dali and the Senate have been con
.ituted. and the plain people Of Ire
ard. with adult suffrage lvr both sexes
re supreme.