Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-27
IRELAND s ENTITY
AS FREE STATE IS
LEAGUE PROBLEM
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Sp.ciat Lea.ed Wire 10 The Journal

British empire?
Remembering the sharp differ
ences of opinion which developed in
the American senate in 1919 and
1920 over the question of whether
the six British dominionS had SIX
votes or one vote in the League or
Nations, the point now raised by the
Irish free state is of more than aca-
demic interest, for it may in the end
bring embarrassment to the powers
cndeavoring to deal with Ireland as
an independent state.
The question has been raised quite
unexpectedly by Great Britain her
self. because her foreign office wrote
TO Geneva satting that neither the
League covenant nor any conVen-
ton entered into under the auspices
OF the league was intended to govern
the relations between the various
parts of the British commonwealth.
This viewpoint is emphatically de-
MED by the Dublin government,
which registered the treaty of 1921
in accordance with one of the articles
of the covenant. The Irish free
state applied for admission to the
League of Nations more than year
ago and was formally admitted TO
membership. Great Britain raised no
objection, because Canada, South Az
RIGA Australia and New Zealand had
been invited to accede to the cove
nant Of the league were in TACT mem
bers. No distinction had been made
as between the various common
wealths in the British empire, as
each of the dominions signed the
Versailles treaty and the league cove
nant.
Territorial Integrity
Perhaps the greatest opposition
to American entrance into the league
came from Americans of Irish de-
scent or affiliatiOn, who insisted
that under article ten all the mem
bers of the league were obligated
to preserve the TERRITORIAL integrity
Of members of the league. Ireland
was not then a member and it was
feared that the United States might
be morally obligated to help Great
Britain preserve her territorial IN
tegrity as against rebellion by Ire
land The answer made by the
friends of the league was that
article ten meant the preservation
of the territory members of the
league as against external and not
internal aggression because the
WOIuS eAlCIIldl dSS LNsooAC'i W.
in the covenant. Still this did not
satisfy the opposing elements. When
the Irish Free State joined the
league many Americans of Irish
descent saw the league covenant as
a protector to Ireland because, it
was reasoned, the member states
would be obliged to come to the as
sistance of the Irish Free State "as
against external aggression" by any
other member state, whether that
state was Great Britain or not.
The action of the London govern
ment. however, in making the point
that her treaty with Ireland doesn
come under the requirements of the
covenant may be construed as an
anticipation of such development
some day though the reasoning of
the British has always been that
all the dominions might have a
voice in international relations, but
that the vote of the British en-
pire must be cast as a unit and the
obligations of each dominion must
be those of the British empire as
whole.
The article on the other hand
under which the Irish Free State
registered her treaty with England
reads as follows:
Every treaty or information en-
gagement entered into hereafter by
any member of the league shall be
forthwith registered with the secre-
tariat and shall as soon as possible
be published by it. No such treaty
or international engagement shall be
binding until so registered.
Being a full Pledged member, the
Irish Free state duly registered her
agreement with England which Is
definitely described as treaty and
the Irish viewpoint is that it makes
no difference whether it is called
an international" engagement.
Controversy Not Pushed
Neither London nor Dublin Is
pushing the controversy to settle
ment by the league itself though each
has the uight TO appeal to the world
court for an Interpretation. Great
Britain might oppose such step
but the league itself can ask for an
advisory opinion from the court at
any time and the chances are the
public opinion of the world would
be influenced by such decision ,Ven
though it was not binding on either
party.
So far as America and other ma
tions are concerned, the refusal OF
Great Britain to concede that hel
dominions are states in an interna
tional sense means continued diplo
matte dealings with the British EN-
pire as Il unit through London no
matter how many ministers or leSa
tons; commissioners or commissions
are established in Washington oil
elsewhere to represent the British
commonwealth.
The viewpoint now adopted by
Great Britain is an interesting Sc
quel to the charges made in the sen
nte here that the British Conspiret
to get five extra votes in the league
as comna>.cd with Americas one
The original idea of giving the do
mipions membership in the league
received in the fact more encourage
ment from President Wilson thar
from the British who consented re
luctantly and largely because they
did not foresee the possibilities o
controversy which since have beer
opened up. 1reland'S use of her mem
bership in the league is such tina
there is no doubt here Great Britain
would rather eliminate the six do
minions from voting power altoSethe
in the league il that could be don
and 50 far rs the American debate L
concerned the six to one issue Wouu
then be removed. The Irish IL
America. however, might then b.
even more opposed TO the League
than ever before. The Independent
status of ireland may yet he achiev
ed through definition by the leaSu
and the world court.