New-York tribune., 1919-07-07
Roosevelt i'm Favor
OF Irish Republic,
Declares O'Sheel
Poet Makes Public Part of
Private Talk With Son
of Former President and
Again Proposes Debate

On the ground that Lieutenant Colo
mel Theodore Roosevelt's failure to re-
spond to a repeated challenge to de-
bate the Irish question had broken the
seal of confidence, Shaemas O'Shee.,
poet and advocate of the Irish Republic,
made public, in an open letter yester-
day, part of a private interview which
represents the former Presidents son
as favoring an Irish Republic if the
Irish people want it. The letter also
invites Colonel Roosevelt to proclaim
publicly his views and then return to
New York and run for Office, instead
of remaining in rural Nassau" The
letter reads. in part:
"On st. Patrick's Day Irish-Ameri-
cans of New York, parsd;ng in unprec-
edented numbers, bore among other
banners one reading, England, damn
your concessions, we want our coun-
try
"a few days later you entered public
life by sticking out your jaw and ad-
vising the 10000 American citizens in
that parade to go back to Ireland.
"On March 23 | wrote you that most
of those paraders were Americans like
yourself. I asked you either to confess
error or to accept my challenge to
public debate on the proposition that
the Irish Republic deserves the sup
port of true Americans. Warrior
though you are, you evaded the chal-
lenge.
Recalls Private Talk
"Not wishing to do you injustice, l
interview on April 26, when you stated
that while it was proper to agitate in
America for Belgium, Poland and
Czecho-S -Slovakia it was unpatriotic and
speak for Ireland until peace with Ger
many was concluded. because to do so
might embarrass one Of our allies
England. You gave me, however. under
seal of confidence, your own views on
the Irish situation.
During this time it was abundantly
evident that powerful forces were
esteem, with the double purpose of put
ting you at the head of the American
Legion and then capitalizing your
eminence to secure you public ofhce.
"ln the first giddy moments of this
game it was announced that you would
run for president of the Board of
Aldermen, and the Vice Presidency of
the United States was to be the next
step You naively admitted shat you
would accept either Office.
"But you got the first judgment on
the brand of Americanism you dis
played in sneering at American citizens
{ i ~
Ireland should be liberated when, at
your fellow soldiers balked the first
step in the programme of your mystic
rious managers by refusing to elevate
you to the temporary craftsmanship.
"On May 13 wrote you pointing out
the lesson of this rebuff and again
challenging you to debate.
Ambition Shrinks
"a few days later it was announced
that you would not run for president
of the Board of Aldermen. Your mys-
terious managers saw a light.
"And now, behold. it is announced
that you will run for the Assembly in
Nassau County, provided you are un-
opposed in the primaries. Alas, how
the empire of your ambition has shrunk
to parish! You have now discovered
that you are a resident of rural Mas
sau, where there are not so uncom-
fortably many Irish
"Your discourtesy in not replying to
my second letter released ME from the
bond of confidence. l shall now put
before the public the following pas
sage OF our interview:
Colonel Roosevelt: I favor the
people of Ireland having exactly the
sort of government they DESIRE
"'Mr. O'Shee: Does that include
an Irish republic?'
,"'Colonel Roosevelt: Yes, if that is
what they want"