Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-24
NEW YORK CREETS
PRESIDENT OF ERIN
Wild Ovation Given De Valera
on First Public Appear
ancc.
SEEKS AID FROM AMERICA
Comes as Official Head of Irish
Republic Established Last
December.
DY PATRICk McEyOY.

NEW YORK, juno 23.-E-aEon de
Valera, President of the Irish republic,
today emerged from the cloud of mys-
terry that has yelled his movements
since his arrival in the United States
crowd that filled the corridors OF
the "aldorf-Astoria and overfowed
from the Thrty-third Street entrance
OF the hotel, making the street almost
iinpassable for traffic. let out a cheer
that made the welkin ring as tall.
bronzcd. smooth shavcn man, wearing
eyeglasses, stepped from an automobile
and made his way into the hotel, pre-
ceded by Justice d. F. Coha!an and
John Dewey. one carrying the flag of
the Irish republic and ;hc other the
Stars and Stripes.
Visitor Receives Ovation.
Shouts OF ''lfurrah :or De Valera"
and Long live Ireland" greeted the
party as they entered the crowded cor
ridors, and one aged woman threw her
arms around De Falera's neck and
KISSED h!m as he came up the steps
y nEinE wedge formed by members Of
the reception committee of the Friends
or irish Freedom had hard job fore
ing way through the packed masses
OF Irish enthusiasts.
y small battery Of newspaper re-
norsess Tsi5 s@.hered 20 meet the Irish
the Waldorf. which is reserved for
heads of nations. and was last oc-
cupied by President Wilson.
AS soon as he had made his bow TO
changed greetings with few old
friends De Valera appeared before the
ne@spaper men. Win smile and
With mellow Irish broguc he began
by saying:
Hns Been IncoEnito.
believe you gentlemen of the
was not your fault. have been iiv-
ing incoEniio with some friends. hu,
nov J am here in my official capacity.
is 20 the press rather than TO the
diplomats that the representatives Of
lhe common people must appeal If they
aeaiiE wish to save democracy. One
or the objects of my visit was that
! might present my case 20 the pcopIe
N my own words and not as the Eng
sish propaggandis's often have repre-
Is Milking omciaI Visit.
De Valera then read a statement
setting forth that he had come 10
America AS the official head Of the
repubiic established by the will OF the
eraI election of last December
lie declared that the unanimity ex-
pressed in this election was greater
Union and Constitution had hcen es
tabiished. and described the conditions
that might have cnsued had England
enforced demand for absolute unani-
NIFTY in the che Of the American col
This picture he drew as parallel
70 the situation in Ireland. where the
Ulster minority has managed TO block
nome rule for Ireland
Seeks Americas Aid.
The men who established your re-
public sought the aid of France" he
continued we seek the aid of Amer
ica II is to seek that aid that | am
here; and am confident that shall
not he disappointed. I come here en-
titled to speak for the Irish nation
with an authority democratically as
sound and as we'll based as that with
which President Wilson speaks for the
United States. or Lloyd George for
England. or Clemenceau for France.
come directly from the people of
ireland TO the people OF America, con-
Ntn<ed that the American people, and
consequently the American govern
ment. which as a government of the
people ought to reflect the people S
VIII. will never consciously connive at
or allow itself to be made a party TO
the suppression OF the natural God
given right of the Irish people TO
liberty.