Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-06-07
Walsh and Dunno Abandon Effoft
to Get Safe Conduct For
DE Valera.
Merely Desire to Present Resolutions
Adopted at Philadelphia
Convention.
SEND LETTER TO PRESIDENT.

Messrs. Walsh and Dunno. as
members of the committee appointed
by the Irish race convention held in
Philadelphia in February. who are
now in Paris, have abandoned the
effort to obtain a safe conduct from
Ireland to France for Prof. DE Val
era. Griffiths and Plunkett, dele
gates of the convention of the Irish
Republic, in order that they may
present Ireland's claims to indie
pendence to the Peace Conference.
In a letter to President Wilson,
Messrs. Walsh and Dunno say that
their information is that the British
Government has definitely denied
safe conduct to the Irish Republic
delegation. They request the Pres
ident to use his good offices to per-
NIT the American committee to pre-
sent Ireland's case, but make it
plain that they appear in an unof-
fetal capacity and in no sense rep
resent the people of Ireland or their
representatives but merely desire to
present the resolutions adopted at
the Philadelphia convention, with a
brief argument in support of them.
The letter of the American dele
cation reads as follows:
Dear Mr.. President-We beg to
advise you that in pursuance of a
commission given to us by the Irish
race convention, held in the City of
Philadelphia, on February %, 1919,
and following our letter to you of
April 16, every effort has been made
to obtain a hearing for the dele
hn Of Tro-
land to represent them at the Peace
Conference. Our information is that
the Government of Great Britain 'has
definitely denied safe conducts to
these representatives and hence
they can not appear before the
Peace Conference or any committee
thereof.
The resolutions and instructions
under which we are acting provide
that if an opportunity be not given
to the regularly chosen representa-
tives of Ireland we should ourselves
present her case, her inslstence upon
f, her right of self-determination, and
to international recognition of a re-
publican form of government, es-
I tablished by her people.
We therefore petition you to use
your good offices to secure a hear
} ing for us before the special COM
mittee of the four great Powers, so
that we may discharge the duty i'm
= posed upon us by ,our convention.
In order to avoid misunderstanding
we desire to state and would thank
you to convey the information to the
other members of your committee,
that we do not hold or claim to have
any commission or authority from
/ the people of Ireland or their repre-
sentatives, but desire solely and re-
spectfully TO present the resolutions
of the American convention, with a
4 brief argument in support thereof.
We also point out that, while the
convention which we represent was
J unofficial, and while we claim no Of
/ fetal authority in the Government
sense, nevertheless it was a conven-
ton composed of 5.132 delegates.
democraticalIy selected, representing
every State in the American Union.
and the individuals who composed 1t
may fairly be said to have been men
and women Of all shades of political
opinion, of all religious sects. and of
practically every trade, profession
and avocation which go to make up
our national life.
We think 1t is likewise fair to
state that this convention acted for
many millions of our fellow citizens,
who. is this representatives way, re-
spectfully urge you to give a favor
able response to the request OF this
petition.
/ We will deeply appreciate it If
you will be good enough to give us
an early reply to this letter, as the
matter of our departure for home
is pressing us. With continued
great respect and esteem. we are
sincerely,
FRANK p. WALSH,
e. +. dunno.