New-York tribune., 1919-05-28
Secretary Lansing Informs
Walsh He Feels 1t Unwise
to Ask for Safe Conducts
for De Valera's Mission
British Offended, He Adds
Delegate, in Reply,
Insists He Made No Inn.
properRemarks inIrcland

PARIS, May 27 (By The Associated
s).-The efforts of ex-Governo,
Dunne of Illinois, Frank P. Walsh ano
Michael Ryan, representing various
lrlsh societies in the United States. tc
secure safe conducts for Edward Dc
valera, Arthur. Griffith and Count
tlunkett to come to Paris to present
the irish case to the peace conference
ended to-day with a written communi.
cation from Secretary of State Lansino
70 Mr.. Walsh. After acknowledged
the original request, Secretary Ians;no
says: q
81 Immediately took steps to ac-
quaint myself with the facts Of the
case which transpired before. the
matter was brought to my attention
by your letter. | am informed that
wnen the question Of approaching
the British authorities with view
TO procuring the safe conducts in
question was first considered every
eHort was made in an informal wav
TO orlng you into friendly touch with
the British representatives here, al
though owing to the nature of the
case 1t was not possible to treat the
matter officially.
Refers to His Speeches
"The British authorities havinc
consented that you and your col
leagues should visit England and
ireland, although your passports
were good only for Franc, cverv
facility was given you to take the
journey. Before you returned. how
ever, reports were received of cer-
tain utterances made by you and
your colleagues during your visit to
Ireland.
"Thesc uttcrances, whatever +hcv
may have been, gave. as am in,
lormed, deepest offence to those per
sons with whom you were seeking to
deal. Consequently it has seemed
useless to make any further effort in
connection with the requests which
you desire to make
I'm view of the situation TINS
created, regret to inform YOU that
the American representatives feel
that any further effort on their part
connected with this matter would be
futile, and, therefore, unwise."
In reply to this, Mr. Walsh wrote
secretary Lansing long letter de-
'laring that the Irish delegation had
not authorized anyone to make an Of
1ort TO bring It's members into friendly
'elatlons with the British representa-
ives In Paris or elsewhere, and
added:
Denies Unofficial Acts
I'VE also beg to advise you that
1t no time in Paris or elsewhere have
We sought to deal privately or unoffi-
'lally with any persons relative to the
purposes of our mission"
Mr.. Walsh's letter then reproduccs
letter submitted to the State De-
oartment previous to the obtaining
IT passports, in which the object of
he visit to Paris was stated, and re-
'ltes the fact that on arrival he ad-
dressed letter to President Wilson.
'sking the President to secure safe
for De Valera and the others.
The letter continues the history of
he case and goes on to say that after
n interview with President Wilson
he matter was taken up with Colonel
iouse, through whom the same request
vas made.
"The implications in your letter."
ays Mr.. Walsh, "that any person was
citing unoff'icially, privately or secret
y, IS, therefore, erroneous. Attempted
egotiations on behalf of Ireland in
uch fashion not only would be viola
I've of our instructions, but obnoxious
the principle which we steadfastly
dhere, with multitudes of our fellow
ltlzens, that just and permanent
eace only can be procured through
ovenants openly arrived at"
The letter concludes with a request
or the names Of the persons offended
y the utterances of the delegation in
reland, and denies that the delegation
lade utterances not strictly in con-
ormity with the purposes stated in
he applications for passports.