ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS TO PRESIDENT WILSON AND MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

New Zealand Tablet, 31 July 1919, Page 28

ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS TO PRESIDENT WILSON AND MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

The Pans correspondent of the Freeman's Journal says:— Walsh, one of the delegates of the Irish Race. Convention of the United States, had an interview with Mr. Lansing, after which a statement on behalf of the delegates Was handed President Wilson, Mr. Lansing, and Mr. Lloyd George. The statement gives an extended report of their visit to Ireland, and proceeds to suggest alternative proposals for investigating the situation. The first, proposal is that the Peace Conference appoint a committee to sit in Dublin and London and take evidence of the facts as stated by them, no member to be from Ireland or Great Britain. Secondly, it is suggested that a committee be elected consisting of three selected by the British Prime Minister and three selected by a majority vote of the combined Nationalist, Republican, and Unionist people of Ireland, with a chairman resident in America, Italy, Japan, or France, or, failing agreement with the Chairman of the American Supreme Court. . - Messrs. Walsh and Dunne, in their letter to President Wilson, say:—"On account of the serious and critical situation exposed by the report, we beg you will be good enough to give this document your careful consideration, also to present the same to the full Peace Conference or the Committee of the Five GreatPowers." _" The letter to Mr. Lansing says:—"ln view of the fact that the Senate of the United States is now considering the subject of the new treaty or treaties- with Great Britain and on account of the further fact that the House of Representatives has heretofore passed a resolution in favor of Ireland's right to self-determina-tion which has not been acted upon by the Peace Conference, unless in a secret session, of which we have no advice, we respectfully request you kindly to transmit one copy of this document to the Senate and one to the House of Representatives, in conformity with the customs and practices of the State Department." The letter to Mr. Lloyd George says:—"We have the honor to inform you we have, except where prevented by the use of the military force of the English army of occupation, visited the four provinces of "ireland, including Belfast, as well as other principal cities and towns. In order that the Government of Great Britain may be informed, we hand you a copy of the report which, in addition to presentation of the facts, contains a demand for an investigation under the authority of the Peace Conference. We also wish to advise you that the original document has been handed to President Wilson and copies transmitted to the House of Representatives. Messrs. Walsh and Dunne sent the following cable to Judge Cohalan:—"Victory Loan movement inspiring. Congratulations. Fight here just begun." The delegates expressed much satisfaction with the report that Senator Borah's resolution calling on the Peace Conference to give a hearing to Ireland's case has been favorably reported on by the Foreign Relations Committee. Mr. Walsh says it is most timely, and expresses confidence that the Senate will adopt' the Committee's report. He thinks that as the Senate is the body to ratify the Treaty and the League Covenant, the Irish position is immensely strengthened. Reuter's Paris correspondent, referring to the request that the Conference should investigate the Irish question, adds:—"lt is understood if the request is refused Mr. Walsh will approach the Italian delegation, and probably the British Dominions delegations."