THE IRISH-AMERICAN DELEGATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 301, 16 September 1919, Page 5

THE IRISH-AMERICAN DELEGATION

REPLY TO CHIEF SECRETARY'S STATEMENT. ' Somo davs ago we reprinted a categorical statement by Mr. Lan Macpherson, Chief Secretary for Ireland, replying to certain charges which had been made by the Irish-American delegation sent over to inquire into Hie situation in Ireland. To that statement the InsiAmorican envoys-Messrs. Dunne Walsh, and Uvan-have published the following: "We* might refrain from making a reply to the answer of Mr. Macpherson, Chief Secretary of Ireland, for the reasons :— „„, (1) That our charges were not made against subordinate officials of tho English Government in Ireland, _ but against the Government of His Majesty Kin? George V. ~ , (2) That the reply of Mr. Macpherson completely dodges the demand for an impartial commission of. investigation, and is plainly an undignified attempt upon tho part'of th-2 English Government to try the Irish atrocity charges m friendly newspapers instead of before an impartial tribunal. ■ , . (3) That it took nearly two weeks to frame a reply when any first-class Government with orderly Department records could have submitted an honest and truthful one within two hours. _ (1) That the replv as characterised by the London Times' is halting, stammering- and evasive. • (5) On account of the damaging and shameful admissions of imsgovcrnmcnt and violation of human rights contained in the reply itself. . . (G) That the reply seeks to avoid impartial Investigation by the substitution of a. campaign of slander and nbuse against an investigator who preferred ' "To the points specifically denied in Mr. Maephevson's reply, (a) The assault upon Professor Mae- ! Neill.-I.i addition to the statement of the investigators who witnessed the as- . *ault. we will produce at least twenty impartial persons who saw the assault, Hid will testify to its brutal nature and '■!<■> insults which followed it. (1.0 Political prisoners in nnim.nl cages— To prove that prisoners in the Momitjoy ! Prison were on exhibition in cages used for wild animals we will' produce photographs of the cages, and if they have been removed wo will produce at least 1 50 prisoners who occupied them, and a

countless number of impartial witnesses who saw llieni.

(c) Victims rendered insnno—Wo will produce records of gaol and insane asylum as well as victims and relatives of those who Lave not to prove our charges that nurriberß of Irish republican,, ,vero rendered insane by their treatment. (d) victims—We will produce nosoital records and the testimony of physicians of the highest standing, ns well as intelligent and impartial witnesses who treated and saw the victims whilo suffering; from pneumonia caused by cold water thrown upon them and exposure in different prisons; also the names and death certificates of those who died from such treatment. (e) Dead, wounded, and disabled—Wo will produce a list of dead and those who 1 were permanently maimed and disfigured by atrocities practised upon them; also a "list of thoso whose health has been shattered accompanied by names and dates. A copy of this list of dead and wounded aud permanently disabled is now in Washington for presentation to the Con«rcss of the United States. (f) Indisputable proof of other charges —These, as well as other chaws m Die original and supplementary reports of our investigations, we are ready to substantiate not only bv testimony of tho victims, but bv hundreds of disinterested witnessesincluding past and present members of the English Army and the Boyal Irish Consfabiunry, who, sickened by the atrocious nets they were called upon to perform and witness, either resumed their commissions or now stand ready to sacrifice their careers in the interest of humanity and justice. fg) Result of refusal to grant an im-. partial court of iwuiiry. llvd."* (he Pnv. eminent of Great Britain quickly agrees to the institution of an impartial court of inquiry by the Peaee Congress,, then its hypocritical oretension that it is the . defender of small and weak nations will . be ex-posed to the world in all its naked- . ness."