Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-06-28
Direct Representative of People OF
Ireland to People of
America.
VIII Appeal to Official America
to Recognize Ireland Before
World.
STATEMENT TO BE ISSUED.

member of the Irish National AS
sembly, who is in America with
President De Valera, announced in
New York City that the President
was preparing a statement to the
American people. Secretary Boland
issued a lengthy letter from which
we extract the following:
Eamonn De Valera President of
the Irish Republic, is in his native
city. He is here as the direct repre-
sentative of the people of Ireland,
to the people of America He is
elected President of the elected
Government of the Irish nation,
which has deliberately determined
itself as republic. He was chosen
by adult suffrage, through the
peaceful, democratic machinery of
the ballot. Nominated by no small
group of special interest, nor yet
self-appointed, De Valera was free
ly chosen by three to one majority
of the Irish people as the duly ac-
credited spokesman of the Irish ma
ton. He Is therefore entitled to
speak for ireland with an authority
from the standpoint of democracy
equal to that of the President of the
United States or of the Premier of
France or of Great Britain. Presi-
dent De Valera has undertaken this
journey at the request of his Gov
eminent. His presence is intended
to mark in a conspicuous manner
the esteem in which the Irish peo-
pie hold the people of America. His
personal connection with this coun-
Oh IL I'm
affection for it, in addition to his
qualifications as a statesman, make
him a suitable ambassador. The
visit of the President of the Irish
Republic to America at this time is
fraught with grave Importance. He
comes with a plan of reconstruction
for Ireland, and will endeavor to in
terest American industries in the
broad field of Irish commerce. He
will float IN America a bond issue
of the Irish Republic that will start
that new republic on a financial
plane equalled by few and excelled
by none. He will appeal to official
America to stand by the Irish Re-
public and recognize it before the
world.
President De Valera, with the
approval Of his Cabinet, comes to
America 20 plead the cause of ire
land before this great republic. He
has unbounded confidence in the
American people. and he feels GER
tain that America will insist upon
her war aims being enforced. and
he knows that America will not
permit the people of Ireland TO be
the only white people in Europe or
in the world condemned to slavery
The President of the Irish Republic
was on the high seas when the Sen
ate of the United States voted by 60
to that he be heard at Paris.
When 1 informed him of this vote
he answered:
"'America is the hope of the
world never for a moment
doubted the sincerity of her war
aims
"The vote of the American. FEEDER
alton of Labor and of the New York
Board of Aldermen has been very
welcome news to him, and on be-
half of Ireland he bids me to offer
the gratitude of his people. He has
read of the great part America
played in the liberation of Greece
and of Cuba. He knows that the
United States Senate sent a war
ship for Kossuth to bring him to
America TO plead the cause of his
stricken land. He is aware that the
spirit of Washington and his prayer
for Ireland's freedom finds an an
swering echo in America today.
President De Valera comes to
A N faf q
oldest nation in Europe, a nation |
whose mythology is equalled only
by that of Greece; a nation that |
preached ard spread the light of
throughout the world |
when the ancestors of the present |
'ulers of Ireland were painting |
heir bodies in the hills of Wales. |
President De Valera speaks for a |
nation at whose shores the Romans |
we're halted. The Normans came |
md conquered England in one bat
le-the battle of Hastings. They |
INVADED Ireland and finally, after |
100 years OF fighting, they were as
Iimilated and became, in the words
If the historian. more Irish than
he Irish themselves. President De
yalera voices the spirit and soul of
faelic Ireland He asks no -paltry
lole from England. in exchange for
reland's God-given right to free
Iom. He has led Ireland out into
he light of the MONDAY sun and
ever again will she be driven back
S British shire.
president De Valera comes to
eek recognition of the dejure gov
rnment of Ireland7a government
ased on the will of the people.
overnment brought into being by
he peaceful application of the bal
,t. He feels that America, having
card his story, will stretch out its
trong arms and bid her welcome
lid her rise again, free Irish Re-
ublic, untrammeled and unclaimed.
[e believes that America, in her
I'VE of Justice and fair play, will
se with one voice and in tones that
ill be heard over the seas demand
lat the Just cause OF Ireland be
sttled now. President De Valera 4
on behalf of Ireland, [
lat Ireland will conduct herself
it'll the dignity BETTING the an !
ent nation: that she will live in Q
sace and harmony with all peoples;
lat she will not seek quarrel d
ith any people under the sun; that Il
lie will live her own life, in her
yn way, and in the spirit of good s
III fouUorI o. r.nanIoo