CONSCIENCE OF WORLD SHOCKED

New Zealand Tablet, 24 February 1921, Page 27

CONSCIENCE OF WORLD SHOCKED

A message from Washington dated December 14, to the Irish Work], states:

Raising the question as to whether the United States ought to continue diplomatic relations with Great Britain, on account of the atrocities committed by her in Ireland, Representative Isaac R. Sherwood, Democrat, of Ohio, introduced a concurrent resolution providing for the organisation of an International High Commission to determine the responsibility for present conditions on that persecuted island. The commission would bo composed of representatives of the United States, France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Argentina. Both parties to the controversy would "be excluded. The resolution appropriates 25,000 dollars to defray the expenses of this country in the investigation. Conscience of World Shocked.

Recent events in Ireland and the attitude of Great Britain toward the Irish people, the resolution declares in setting forth- urgent reasons for such an inquiry, "have become a reproach to civilisation and have shocked the conscience of the world." "The treatment of Ireland and its people by the British Government," it continues, ''is a' matter of special and deep concern to the millions of American citizens of Irish descent, and seriously threatens the continuance of friendly relations between the Governments of Great Britain and the United States and the people of the same, and menaces the peace of the world."

Passport Action Condemned. In refusing to recognise passports issued by .this Govern to the American Commission on Conditions in Ireland, and in refusing to allow the commission to enter Ireland, the resolution holds, Great Britain has brought the United States into contempt. The situation in Ireland, the resolution points out, is one of "violence and terrorism, the incidents of which comprise, among other things, murder, assassination, assault, plunder, looting, the burning or destruction of houses, shops, factories, creameries, churches, and entire villages and towns." "It includes," the resolution continues, "raids by bodies of armed men m uniform upon defenceless inhabitants, the wanton destruction of stores of food and forage, barbarous treatment of men, women, and children, and the establishment and maintenance of a general state of lawlessness and terrorism, together with the denial or arbitrary infringement of the accustomed civil rights of free assembly, free speech, free press, and free movement about the country, and.the suspension of the ordinary and established processes of government." ;', Responsible officials of the British Government, the resolution asserts, "not only have admitted the existence and continuance- of the aforesaid acts and policy, but have also, from time to time in the House of Commons and elsewhere, publicly condemned and approved the same as'justifiable reprisals for alleged illegal and rebellious acts which the' duly authorised representatives of the Irish people, including duly elected members of the British Parliament,: have publicly and repeatedly denied." : •' r - '■<"■'<' ■ ■> * t ■ ■