New-York tribune., 1919-06-23
VIII Explain Aims at Wal.
dorf at s Tonight When
He Makes First Public Ap-
pearance i'm This Country
Calls U. S. Worlds Hope
Chief Much Impressed by
Senate's Vote, Secretary
Says, Telling of Plans

aileo ny Ie" ana excelled by none,
riding to statement issued yester-
{ by Harry j. Boland, secretary OF
tn Sim Fein cheftain.
-ofessor de Valera himself con.
t ed in seclusion yesterday, but Mr.
md promised that the elusive Irish
~ would receive reporters to-mor.
II evening at 6 o'clock in the estate
III tment" at the Waldorf-Astoria.
r. Boland, who came to the United
st. es as a stoker aboard a freiehter
iss ed long statement concerning the
pa life Of his leader, his immediate
pls IS and his hopes for the future. In
1t. however, he said not word con-
cel hing the method employed by De
Va era in getting away from Ireland to
the United States. The statement fol-
lows, in part:
"Eamonn Gaelic for Edwara) de
Valera, President Of the Irish Repub-
lie, is in his native city. He is here as
tho direct representative Of the people
Hs is. the elected President of the
elected government of the Irish nation
which has deliberately determined it.
self as republic. He was chosen by
adult suffrage, through the peaceful
democratic machinery of the ballot.
Chosen by to
Nominated by no small group Of
special interests, no vet self appointed
de Valera was freely chosen by to
! majority. of the Irish people, as the
duly accredited spokesman of the Irish
nation. He is, therefore, entitled ia
speak for Ireland with an authority
from the standpoint of democracy
equal to that of the President of the
United States or of the Premiers OF
France or of Great Britain.
'"Pre sident de Valera has under.
taken this journey at the request OF
his government. His presence is in
tended to mark, in conspicuous man
ner, the esteem in which the Irish
people hold the people of America
His personal connection with his coun
try, coupled with his we'll known affec
tion for it in addition to his oualifica-
lions as statesman, make him q suit.
able Ambassador.
His visit at this time is fraugh
with Importance. He comes with 8
plan of reconstruction for Ireland anc
VIII endeavor to interest American in.
1e will float in America bond issue
tnat will start the new republic on 8
financial plane edualled by few and
excelled by none. He will appeal tc
ofhcial America to stand by the Irish
Republic and recognize it before the
world.
Surrendered in Insurrection
During the instruction EastA7
5 K, 1916, de Valera was given tn,
'3'rgsend' Mount Street area, Dubl;r
hold with his battalion. Here
wat'i little more than 100 men, he with
stood the entire force of the Enelisl
army, which marched with artillery O,
Dublin from Kingstown. His mai,
position was still unshaken when he re
ceived the order of his commander i,
rh.ef, Padraic Pearse, to surrender.
"In his report, the British genera
were far higher than in any other
shiIe the records show that de Valera,
'ralties were slight.
hen he surrendered de Valera wal
4 by court martial and sentenced
shot, but the sentence was com
d to penal servitude for life. HI
the only one of that band of Dub
commandments to escape execution
nd was included in the first batch Of
. ethical prisoners sent to the convict
: ison at Dartmoor There he was
! etriots from all over Ireland, to the
lmber of sixtyfve.
Violated Convict System
The English convict system is Sc.
:, and vigorous discipline is main
ed. Absolute silence is the rule
'oners are searched four times each
are locked in their cells twenty
out of twenty-four hours. Dur.
nf
a. elled to march five PAGES apart
front. To smile is an offence, tt
~, objectionable. When a prisoner
to see the governor Of the Jail
.e doctor, he must stand with hi.
to, the wall, until such time az
1t 'dignitary chooses to put in an
appearance. Such were the conditions
lat confronted the Irish patriots
vhen they reached the prisons of Eng.
ID. e
resident de Valera and his fellow
riots STOOD this for six weeks, when
fessor Eoin Mcneil, of the National
versity, Dublin, arrived to serve 3
sentence. Mcneil was the last
had been commander in chief Of the
! p volunteers.
Dumfounded His Warders
eith Mcneil in the prison, the
J 81 Volunteers were complete. He
| arrived during the night, and made
first appearance at the morning pa
rsd~, the following day. Eamonn dt
.ra, as senior officer, recognized tht
!. former commander in chief in the line
called his fellow prisoners to tht
salute:
"sIrish Volunteers! Attentionl Eye.
left!, 49,
@The warders Of the Jail were dunn.
founded.
Finally, de Valera was removed
from Dartmoor and transferred to
Aatcstone Convict Prison.
when de Valera demanded the
rights OF prisoners of war for the Irish
volunteers there were 1000 Irishmen
IA Frongoc internment camp. These
we're being treated as prisoners of war
~ England. The demand was made
snss All who had taken part in the in
ssar:sction be similarly treated. Eng
LAG released 1000 interned men Of
sarecn9oc and brought all the remaining
y conyicts lincluding de Valera) to
LMes Prison, where certain slight
yo0eessions were made. They were al
SWcn 70 converse while at exercise.
Prisoners Wreck Cells
A1ter few months at Lewes the
pIIsoners agreed that the time had ar
INsd When q vigorous protest was nee
sxsefy TO win the rights of prisoners
mar. De Valera waited his oppor-
sssansty. Inc news was trickin1 through
~ PRISON bars that huge meetings
ess ~ neing held In Ireland. demanding
snsx england treat her prisoners ac-
&o4QjnE TO the rulea ~ riviIi,.1 W.