League for Small and Subject Nationalities

The League for Small and Subject Nationalities was a self-determinist organisation formed during World War I in New York City, with the following aims:

...to establish a permanent congress of the small, subject and oppressed nationalities of the world; to assert the right of each nationality to direct representation at the peace conference following this war, as well as at every international conference held thereafter for the discussion of questions affecting its interests; to present the case of these nationalities to the world; to emphasize the importance of restoring to these nationalities the right of self-government as an indispensable condition for world peace..."^[1]

The League's President was Frederic C. Howe, who was also United States Commissioner of Immigration. At a controversial meeting held in October 1917, the League was accused of pro-German bias when the issue of Alsace-Lorraine was due to be discussed. The Irish delegation was represented by Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington of Sinn Féin, who was also accused of sympathies for Germany.^[2]

References

1. Charity Organization Society of the City of New York The Survey: social, charitable, civic : a journal of constructive philanthropy, Volume 38. The Charity Organization Society of the City of New York, 1917
2. "QUIT CONVENTION FOR SMALL NATIONS". The New York Times. October 29, 1917. p. 9. Retrieved 5 March 2010.