IRELAND

Evening Star, Issue 16778, 5 July 1918, Page 6

IRELAND

ANTI-CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 4. The Irish leaders have issued an appeal to President Wilson to assist Ireland to resist England’s demand for Conscription. The appeal recalls that Australia and •South Africa refused to adopt Conscription. M’ho Sinn Fein, Gaelic League, Irish "Volunteers, and kindred bodies have been proclaimed dangerous associations. A CRAFTY APPEAL. SENT TO AMERICA. LONDON, July 4. (Received July 5, at 9.15 a.m.) The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Dillon, Mr Devlin, Mr Mealy, Mr O’Brien, M.P.’s, and the Sinn Fein leaders have sent a message to President Wilson, in which they say that England threatens to crush the people of Ireland if they don’t accept the blood tax. The message quotes the appeal which the American revolutionaries addressed to Ireland in the eighteenth century, and goes on to say " If England itad been able to conscript the Irish race then, would the United States enjoy its noble Constitution now? Ireland ns a nation is more ancient than England; she throbs with national consciousness. We are now required by law to bleed to make the world safe for democracy in every country except our own.. Surely this cannot be. the meaning of America’s message to mankind. It is known that Australia and South Africa refused to adopt Conscription when England resolved upon that law for Ireland. To overlay malpractice bv imputing to the victims perversa criminal conduct is n. State device of tyranny. We feci assured that the President will not be among those condemning Ireland for determining to continue steadfastly in her present course.”