Republican farmer., 1919-07-11
Irish Urge |nquiry
 Into Home Conditions
COMPLETE REPORT OF ACTION TAKEN BY COMMITTEE TO SECURE IRELAND'S
 FREEDOM.

iutton for the appOin tinent or d Noill- e mittee of Twenty-Five y the chairman, and instructed it to use all honorable means to secure for Ireland her right of sclf-determinaticn
 This general committee selected from It's own body Frank r. Walsh cf New York. former Gov. Edward r. Dunnc of Illinois. and Michael J.. Ryan of Philadelphia. as a special Commission to go to Paris. The in structions of this special committee were as follows:
 ITO obtain for the delegates select cd by the people of Ireland a hear ing at the Peace Conference, and to place before the Conference. if that hearing be not given. the case Of Ire land: her insistcncc upon her right Of sclf-dctcrmination and to interna- t.onal recognition of the republican form of government established by her people"
 Upon their arrival at Paris a letter signed by all the commissioners was addressed to President Wilson. asking hiu to obtain from the British Gov crnment safe conducts for Eamon De Valera. Arthur Griffith and Count George Noble Plunkett. the repre- tyrtatives selected by the people of Ireland from Dublin to Paris and return; and also asking him to accord an interview to the American Com mission.
 Tn response 10 this letter the Presi- dent wrote to Mir. Walsh. chairman of the Commission. granting him an interview. and fixing the time.
 Tho President gave an exhaustive hearing Co the case as presented by NIr Walsh. and referred him to Col r.. M. House with instructions to say that he believed the request proper one. and that it should be granted.
 The entire Commission waited upon Col House. advised him of the sug- Ecs;ion of the President and pre- scnted the request in writing for safe conducts For Messrs. De Valera. Grif- nth and Plunkett. Col. House prom iscd to take the matter up with Mir Lloyd George Immediately and to use every effort to have the safe conducts rranted.
 Upon the following day Col. House announced to the Commission, who again called upon him in body, that he had communicated with the Primo Minister of England. and that in all likelihood the safe conducts would be granted: but that MT. Lloyd George wns very dcsirous of having an in terview with the American Commls- sioncrs personally and would be glad to havC Chairman Walsh take up the D1atter of fixing the time and place for the meeting with Mir. Lloyd Georges Confidential Secretary, Mfr. Philip Kerr.
 The Commission notified Col. House at once that they did not seek n con- ference with Mr. Lloyd George; doubted very much the wisdom or propriety of meeting him. but finally agreed to do so as matter of cour- tcsy
 Later in the day the entire Com mission called upon Col. House and stated that. under no circumstances did they wish 10 be relegated to Mir. Lloyd George on the question of the issuance of the safe conducts, but were relying upon him, Col. House. as one of tho American Commission CTS, to secure compliance with the request. if possible. With this clear understanding they would meet the Prime Minister
 Mir. Lloyd George, on the plea of Icing closely occupied with the prep aration of the German peace terms. put or the proposed meeting with the delegates from time to time. covering q period of something like two weeks
 The American Commission finally called upon Col. House. explained once more that no part of the duties Of their mission called for meeting with Mir. Lloyd George. and asked him tp address a formal request for the safe conducts for Messrs. De Valera Grih1th and P1unkett, to Mir. Lloyd George. and secure. if possible. a prompt and direct answer to that re- quest.
 Upon the same day. and shortly be- fore the visit of the Commission to Col House. Messrs. Sean T. O'Ceal- lniFh and George Gavan Duffy. the representatives of the Irish Republic in Paris. conveyed an invitation from President De Valera to the Commis- sion to visit Dublin. and gave. among other reasons, the necessity for a con- ference upon matters of grave i'm portance at the time transpiring IT Ireland
 When we arrived at the office ot Col House in the Hotel Grillon that evening to receive an answer from MT Lloyd George. we found Sir vii. liam wiseman. the liason officer be tween the American and British Elm. baRsie in Paris. He presented tho apologies of MT. Loyd George for tn, delay. and said that Mir. Lloyd Georg, would Ike to fix time for the inter view upon some day of the followins week. Mir. Walsh speaking for tn, Commission, replied that if they wer, to remain another week in Paris be fore receiving an answer to their re quest for the safe conducts, they wisr, ed to use tho time in q visit to Ire1a m for the purpose of meeting the ren resentatives of the Irish people an, of making a first hand investigation of conditions in Ireland.
 As the passports of the rner,bor pr the CsOmrni45ion
 England and Ireland. it was neces cary to have them amended yybic, was expeditiously done. the amende, passports reading that the rnember of the Commission were going to Ire l7nd on an unofficial political mia --5u-- and the forms of the mass ports were made diplomatic. whtcl