The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-08-02
President De Valera Answers a s
Louis Newspapers
Query.

st. Louis, July 2O.-The Post-Dis. |
patch printed this editorial on Friday
and telegraphed it to Eamon De
Valera, president of the Irish republic.
at San Francisco, asking him for a
reply to its question::
81 am putting the case Of Ire
land squarely before the Ameri-
can people; it is question as be-
tween England and Ireland, be-
tween right and might, and l have
no doubt of their verdict" said
Z Eamon De Valera, president of the
Irish republic, in his San Francis
co address.
Asks the Post Dispatch:
"For what purpose What form Of
verdict do De Valera and his ardent
Irish-American supporters want from
the American people If they merely
want American sympathy for the as
pirations of the Irish for independent
self-government, they have it. Millions
of Americans, doubtless an overwhelm-
ing majority, sympathize with the
cause of Irish freedom and have done
sd since our own republic was found
ed. For this purpose the De Valera
campaign is hardly necessary.
.Do they want the verdict to take
the form Of an American effort to free
Ireland, regardless Of the will Of Great
Britain? Do they want us to wreck
the peace treaty because Ireland did
not get hearing at the peace table
and England is a signer of the treaty?
Do they want us to go to war with
Great Britain or take such offensive
action that we risk quarrel with
Great Britain? Do they, want Ameri-
can policy and American interests and
world interests at this critical time
subordinated to Irish interests and as
pirations?
eve ask these questions because it
is time to know precisely what the pur-
pose of the Irish republic propagan-
dists Is. Americans, and particularly.
Americans of Irish origin, ought to
know the truth and the consequences.
Interference on our part would GER
tainly bring war. It is conceivable
that under the pressure of a political
propaganda by Irish sympathtzers.
Congress might take action without
actual interference that would invite
war. It would be another world war
of an extent and horror which would
be hard to foretell.
I'VE ask these. questions because,
at the De Valera meetings President
Wilson is Missed because he declined
to break with Britain and ruin the
peace conference to defend the Irish
cause; the League Of Nations is de-
nounced and we are asked to defeat
it on account of the British.1rish issue.
Not only is Great. Britain denounced
but we are asked to repudiate the Brit
ish Empire and all it's works.
"This is a large programme. It has
plenty Of dynamite in It for America
and for mankind. Our Irish friends
should tell us what they want, and all
true Americans, who put American
interests first, should stop and think
whether we are being led"
President De VaIera's Reply.
President De Valera dictated and
telegraphed to the Post-Dispatch the
following statement:
Taking up the questions asked In
the st.Dispatch editorial" said Mr..
De Valera, ..let me repeat the first
one, which Is:
aeWhat form Of verdict do De
Valera and ardent Irish-American
supporters want from the American
people? If they merely want Amerf-
can sympathy for the aspirations Of
the Irish for Independent selfgovern-
ment, they have IT,
. II am glad" said Mr.. De Valera,
'.that the Post Dispatch recognizes
this is fact. l myself believe it q
fact, and that is why I came to Amer
lea and II. the word Of the Post-Dis-
patch would be taken by the world for
the fact, would be very nearly satis-
hes that my mission was accomp-
lished. But would the American Con-
gress be satisfied with simply the
word Of the Post t-Dispatch, or would
the American Executive be satisfied
with It! + believe that the present
demonstrations are necessary in order
that those who may doubt viii have
Visible demonstrations Of the feelings