"IRELAND A NATION."

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15917, 2 June 1917, Page 10

"IRELAND A NATION."

SINN FEIN CONVENTION

Writing on April 19th. tho Dublin correspondent of the "Morning Post" said: — Tho feature of to-day's Sinn Fein Convention in tho Mansion House, tinder the chairmanship of Count Plunkett, was tho strikingly largo attenda*co of Roman Catholic priests, who came from all parts of the country. Tho lay delegates represented a considerable number of public boards,as well as local political organisations. Tho Sinn Fein and Republican badgo and colours were freely worn.

At the instance of the chairman, votes of honour were passed- in memory of tho men who "sacrificed their lives for Ireland's liberty and to those at present in prison and in exile for Ireland's cause." These resolutions having been passed, thero was a 1 loud call of three cheers for tho Irish Republic, which met -with a ready response. Count Plunkett said he -wished to refer to the men who had been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for the causo of Ireland. "I will not,'' ho said —and there was wild enthusiasm —"insult the courage of these men l>y pleading for their release. Wo ask m> favour of tho enemy, but I must refer to a dishonour put upon these men by the enemy. These men, among tho noblest who have ever fought for Ireland, are not enly wearing tho prison garb, but are treated as criminals, and in your name I demand'that they bo treated as prisoners of war." A wave of cheering swept through tho hall when Count Plunkett announced that any offer England had to make short of complete liberty would bo treated with contcrapt by a free-souled nation. Ho'•'asked his ' audience to stand up and affirm their adhesion to the following declaration: — (1) That we proclaim Ireland to ho a separate nation. (2) That wo assert Ireland's right to freedom from all foreign control, denying the authority of any foreign Parliament to make laws for Ireland. (3) That we affirm tho right of the Irish vpeoplo to declaTc their will as law and enforce their decisions in their own land without let or hindranco from anv other country. (4) That maintaining the status or Ireland as a distinct nation, wo demand representation at the coming Peace Conference. (5) That it is the duty of nations taking part in the Peace Conference to guaranteo tho liberty of tho nations calling for their intervention, releasing ti lo small nations from the control of the greater Powers. (G) That our claim for, complete independcnco is founded on human and the law of nations. Wo declare Ireland has never yielded to and has ever fought against, foreign rule, and wo hereby bind ourselves to use every means in "our power to obtain complete liberty for our country. | Some violent speeches were made during the afternoon.