Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 297, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1920 — IRISH QUIZ TO LEAGUE [ARTICLE]

IRISH QUIZ TO LEAGUE

Geneva Assembly Asked to Assist ' in Inquiry. Rep. Mason Sends Appeal to Induce British to Admit Investigators From United States. Washington, Dec. 13.—Representative Mason of Illinois made public a cablegram sent by him to Paul Hymans, president of the League of Nations, appealing for support of the league in the effort of the commission of the committee of 100 investigating the Irish question to send a special investigating body to Ireland. Passports issued by the State department to members of the investigating committee have' been refused a vise by the British embassy. Representative Mason in his cablegram declared that “in the present instance the League of Nations is afforded an extraordinary opportunity to prove to Americans its freedom from British domination by inducing the British government to permit the truth to be known to America as .to conditions in Ireland.” London, Dec. 13.—Debate on the government’s Irish policy is expected to be opened in the house of commons by liberal leaders next Tuesday. Announcement of martial law in southwestern Ireland, made by Premier Lloyd George before the house Friday, was accompanied by intimations that debate on the subject was not desired, but it appears probable the lower house of parliament may be called upon to decide* whether the cabinet’s plans regarding Ireland are to be carried into execution without the requiescence of the legislative branch of the government. This question, should it come to a vote, would test the stability of the Lloyd George cabinet. Although the declaration of martial law in Ireland has been decided upon, the door to negotiations between the government and the Sinn Fein is not considered closed. Comment in the newspapers relative to the government’s Irish policy was for the most part restrained, and with the exception of one journal, the governments proposals were nowhere wholly condemned. The feature of the premier’s speech that did not escape notice was the fact he was, in effect, holding an olive branch in one hand and the sword in the other. It evoked some questioning, but generally speaking, was not regarded as banishing hope of success.