Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-12-20
Friends of ireland Challenge the
Visiting Delegation From
Ulster.
Question of Ireland's Rights Polit-
ical and Not Religious
One.
Visiting Ulsterites Represent Party
That Polled Only Twenty
three Per Cent. Vote.
DE VALERA WELCOMES DEBATE

The invitation to Join in a gener-
al discussion of the Irish question
has been extended to the commits
sion representing the Protestant
churches of Ireland, recently arrived
In America, by the Protestant
Friends of Ireland, with headquar-
ters at the Hotel Commodore. The
discussion, If arranged. will take
place in Carnegie Hall. The letter
sent by the Protestant Friends of
ireland to the commission says:
I'VE hereby extend to you an in
vitation to be our guests at a public
meeting In Carnegie Hall, where the
entire question may be fairly pre-
eented. We are sure you will agree
with us that it is highly desirable
that this political question be not
made a matter of bitter religious
controversy. Your acceptance of
this invitation will help assure the
public that the time is past when a
question OF political self-determina-
ton can be made dependent on re-
iigious faith. You will of course
understand that in the meeting we
propose we desire opportunity to ex-
press our own point of view as we'll
as to afford your representatives
ample opportunity to present the
message which has brought them to
America"
President Eamonn De Valera, of
the Republic of Ireland, greeted the
Ulster Unionist Council with a chal-
lenge to debate the Irish question
before an American audience. The
President put nine pointed interro-
cations to the visiting delegation
and suggested that q wholly Profess
tant American commission be named
to investigate and report on the
truth of Erin's cause. Far from an
pearing discouraged at the arrival
of the UnionisH clergy. De Valera
smilingly asserted that he was pleas
ed at their coming, adding:
Delighted is the best way to ex-
press our feelings. This is one of
the greatest things that could have
happened for us. Now we will not
have to do all our fighting at
3,000-mile range. We will have
the personal contact which will act
us somewhere without loss of time.
What we seek most is the ven,,ln-
ton of our cause. Truth is mighty
and must prevail. All of us well
come cordially the arrival of our op-
ponents. and we hope that an op-
portunity will be afforded to tnresh
out the whole subject. Whether my
challenge will be accepted l nave
no means of knowing, but with all
my heart hope 1t will be. / do
not know any of the members of
the delegation. not even the spokes-
man, Mr.. William Coote, for 1 am
not politician"
Frank p. Walsh, Chairman of the
American Commission on irish In |
dependence. sent letter to Mr..
Coote denying the latter's statement
that the reports OF British atrocities |!
In Ireland were false, and adding:
This is to advise You, therefore,
that any charges OF falsehool i'm |
puted to Gov. Dunno or myself with |
respect to the acts of brutality men
toned in our report will be SANDER
GUS in their nature, and with this
notification will be taken, IL here /
after made, as uttered with express |
malice"
Chairman Walsh sent cablegrams
to Viscount French, Lord Lieutenant
of ireland, and Ian Macpherson,
Chief Secretary for Ireland, chal
longing them to sue him for libel |
on the basis of his report. Walsh |
wired that any court of Jurisdiction |
In Dublin, London or New York
would be satisfactory il commits |
sion were named to take his testi-
mony. He promised that he would |
be represented personally or by |
counsel in any action.
President De Valera's statement
said that the Ulster Unionist dele |
cation represented a party that poll |
ed only 3 per cent. of the Irish elec |
tors at the latest election. He quot |
ed Mr.. Coote as saying the visitors
are here in the interest of law and
order. truth and honesty, fair play
and principles. adding:
I'VE, too, are here for some prin-
ciples. Let the question be argued
logically and calmly, without epi-
thets that are abusive or assertions
without foundation. IL there is any
difference of opinion between us as
to facts, we can arrange a commits
sion OF investigation. It could be
composed OF two clergymen nomi-
mated by us, two by the Ulster
Unionist delegation and a Chairman
on whom we could mutually agree,
all to be Americans and all Protes-
tants. This commission could re-
port to the American public with
authority. Meantime we trust that
the delegation will debate the ques-
ton with us before the American
public. We are ready to meet them
anywhere on any common platform"
Presidene De Valera quoted one
member of the delegation as saying
that two governments now exist In
Ireland. One of them, he added, was
that of the Republic. elected by the
people: the other that of military
autocracy. America must recognize
one or the other, he continued. and
the American people should decide
which was right. The nine ques-
tons TO which he asked answers
from the Unionist delegation con-
cern the right OF Britain to rule Ire
land: the manner IN which its rule
has been maintained there: the right
OF the majority to decide on the