The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-20
No In Search OF The Worlds Biggest Financial Boss
Irish Republic Still Liues,
Acting President Maintains
Patrick Rutledge, DeValera's Successor, Out
lines Hopes For Complete Freedom -.

Of their moral position into unquali-
fled acceptance of imperial and anti
national obligations.
They, have renowned all their step
ping stone pledges The changes in
their draft constitution to-meet British
demands; the waging of war on republi-
cans AT British dictation the use of
war equipment supplied by the British
war office; the brutality of the method
used /; their Intellectual and ignorant eff
fort to register treaty that was no
treaty with the League of Nations and
subsequent consent to remain a MEM
Der of that body las a territorial de-
Tense appanage of Great Britain's and,
finally, their slavish acceptance of i'm
finally, their lavish acceptance of i'm
conference are outstanding, examples
showing that the treaty, as INhave said,
is retrogression and has not provided
and, in future, will not provide, an
evolutionary progress toward freedom.
Blames Dominions
Irish republicans regard the British
dominions as subsidiary partners of
Great Britain's and as implicitly respon-
sih1e with her for the continued subju-
getion of our country.
For the British 9dominions, off-shoots
of Great Britain with the exception
of the former Boer republic), the Brit
ish crown with all that it connotes is
an inherited and revered symbol.
Their vast distances from Great Bril-
tain; their consequent immunity from
her direct interference; their present
reliance upon her navy for protection,
make them feel their position within the
empire desirable.
To ireland, an ancient and separate
nation, the British crown is the symbol
and the most bitter reality of age-long
and still continued foreign conquest and
oppression. Never will Irishmen come
to regard it otherwise. Any interna-
tional relation imposed and dictated, as
is this treaty relation, by British force,
will fail to establish peace and mutual
trust between the two countries.
Ireland will not be content with any
thing short Of the full rights of nation
hood.
Views Enemies As Friends
From the point OF view Of strategic
safety, Great Britain and the common
wealth can never trust ireland while
this enforced position within the EN-
pire endures. Ireland will still look
upon any enemy of England's as her
friend. England's difficulty will con-
tinue to be Ireland's opportunity.
On the other hand, an independent
Irish republic, with international
recognition and guarantees such as
safeguard all small sovereign states,
could be- relied upon to remain neutral
in time of foreign wars and, if at
tackled, to defend passionate1y her terri
torial inyiolability. The international
position thus created would benefit
Great Britain no less than Ireland. We
should look upon Great Britain, upon
Canada and the other .dominions as our
friends. This is the only righteous, in
telligent and paying solution of 4 the
Irish question.
We object to the League of Nations
on general grounds as at present con-
stituted. A real League of Nations
should include all nations great and
small-@On an equal basis.
In the absence of America .the pre-
p0nderating influence of the British
Empire renders the league impotent to
serve the declared purpose for which it
exists; In particular. we object to Ire
lands participation in any League of
Nations as member of the British
Empire and pledged by covenant to
preserve the integrity. of that empire
thus donbly binding herself in re-
pugnant subseryieney to England and
denying her ancient status.
Ireland looks to America as the cham
pion of liberty and justice, and the
outstanding hope of civilization.