The Irish standard., 1919-11-08

His Unwarranted Charges Against
lreland's citizens-Asks Navy to
Censure Books
In an open letter to Secretary of
the Navy Daniels, Director D.. j.
O'Donnell has asked the admiral to re.
tract his falsehoods which he is writ
ing and expects to soon circulate
throughout the United States, and a
part of the article appeared in the
Worlds Work in the November is
sue. The letter is as follows:
Nov. 1st, 1919.
The Honorable Josephus Daniels,
/, Secretary of the Navy,
| Washington, D. c..
Dear Sir:
The Irish National Bureau respect
fully calls your attention to an article
by Admiral William Sowden Sims in
the November issue of ''The Worlds
Work." which embodies an open in
suit to millions of American citizens.
The article inferentially charges these
loyal Americans with allying them
selves with cause which was openly
hostile to America in the great war.
Admiral Sims asserts that Sim Fein,
which is synonymous with the Irish
! Republican movement, was not only
Openly disloyal" but "openly pro-
German" He charges that, as the re-
suit of this pro- Sim Fein-
ers attacked American sailors in the
streets of Cork and that these attacks
became so serious that it was neces-
sary to bar our American boys from
the city.
The Irish National Bureau, speaking
for millions of citizens of the United
States who are of Irish blood, and
who are solidly behind the Irish Re-
public, wishes to enter an emphatic
protest against an officer of the
United States navy making use of his
name and official position to give
credence and dignity to oft-repeated
statements which are either wholly
false or bald misinterpretation of
facts. Such statements, were they
leveled alone at the Irish people, might
we'll be resented by their friends in
this country; and when they become
part Of bitter campaign of invective
1 4 %~1 ~ 1I1 Of I've nd q
Americans of Irish blood, they become
a serious affront to very consider
able proportion of the people of >tbo
United States.
Admiral Sims contribution is one
| of the most radical of an ever-increas-
ing volume of attack emanating from
the country under whose flag he was
born. AS you must fully realize, Mr..
Secretary, he will be regarded by the
world as an authoritative spokesman
for the United States navy and, as
such, his statements will be accepted
without question as the truth 1t is
essential therefore, that the un'
which Admiral Sims makes must be
corrected or withdrawn in justice to
millions of Admiral Sims fellow-citi
zens in America, and for the honor OF
the United States navy, whose officers
have never knowingly lent their names
to any campaign of misrepresentation
That part of the article in which
Admiral Sims asserts that Sim Feir
was pro-German contains no sub
sanitation of the charge, save that
some American sailors were attacked
in the street of Cork. Admiral Sims
lays all the trouble at the feet of Sim
Fein and points an indicting finger al
rectly at ga delegation claiming tc
represent the Irish Republic" headed
by President De Valera, which now is
touring the United States. 1t is be
cause of the intense interest evinceG
in the United States in the Irish ques
ton that Admiral Sims presumes tt
make his uncalled-for attack upon the
Irish Republic. For the same reason
then, the Irish National Bureau feel:
called upon to openly resent the ad
miral's act.
But there is another reason and
far more important one. For year
English writer's have been embarked
in a never-ceasing campaign of mis-
representation not only of Ireland an
it's people, but of those of Irish bloc
, in the United States. The achieve
ments of these Americans have bee
q minimized and their motives que'
toned; and American writer's (som
unsuspectingly, others with set pu
pose) have repeated these misstat
ments until our history and lteratul
have in part become . tissue OF u