AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: Upon this morning Mr. J. C. Grew, secretary general to the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, handed Gov. Dunne and myself a letter, copy of which is inclosed to you herewith. He stated at the same time that you were willing to accord personal interviews to us. I am deeply appreciative of the courtesy extended, and would be grateful if you will be good enough to indicate at as early a moment as possible, consistent with your great press of affairs, when I might see you. Always, sincerely, The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris. FRANK P. WALSH. AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, MY DEAR SIR: We beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 31 answering ours of the 29th ultimo, handed to us by you in person this morning. We desire to state that our object in requesting an opportunity of appearing before the American Commission to Negotiate Peace was not to ask its good offices to obtain a hearing before the peace conference of representatives of the Irish Republic, as you state in your letter the commission has been led to belive. In order to remove this misapprehension, we respectfully submit the following: 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 of the Irish race convention, under which we are acting, provide that if opportunity be not given the regularly chosen representatives of Ireland, we should ourselves present her case; her insistence upon her right of self-determination; and to international recognition of the republican form of government established by her people. We wish to advise the commission further that we do not hold, or claim to have, any commission or authority from the people of Ireland or their representatives; but desire in appearing before the commission solely and respectfully to present the resolution of the American convention with a brief argument in support thereof. May we also point out that while we claim no official status in the governmental sense, nevertheless, we are the representatives of a convention composed of 5,132 delegates, democratically selected, representing every State in the American Union; and the individuals who composed it 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 it likewise fair to state that this convention acted for many millions of our fellow citizens, who in this representative way respectfully urge the commission to grant us a full hearing. We therefore renew our request, and trust that the commission may see its way clear to fix a time, at its pleasure and convenience, when we may appear before it. Awaiting the favor of an early reply, and with assurances of our great respect, we are, Sincerely, Mr. J. C. GREW, FRANK P. WALSH, Chairman. Secretary General American Commission to Negotiate Peace, Paris. AMERICAN COMMISSION OF IRISH INDEPENDENCE, DEAR Mr. PRESIDENT: We have the honor to hand you herewith report on conditions in Ireland with demand for investigation by the peace conference. On account of the serious and critical situation exposed by the report, we beg that you will be good enough to give this document your careful consideration, and also to present the same to the full peace conference or to the committee of the five great powers, whichever may be the proper course under the practice of the conference. With assurances of our great respect and esteem, we are, Sincerely, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris. AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, SIR: Complying with you request of May 1, 1919, made through Sir William Wiseman and assented to by Messrs. Sean T. O'Ceallaigh and George Gavan Duffy, the representatives at Paris of the Irish republican government, that we visit every part of Ireland, and especially Belfast, to ascertain the actual conditious existing in that country. We have the honor to inform you that we have, except where prevented by the use of military forces of the English army of occupation, visited the four Provinces of Ireland, including Belfast, as well as the other principal cities and towns. We have prepared a report covering the facts, with certain recommendations In order that the Government of Great Britain may be informed, we herewith hand you copy of this report, which, in addition to the presentation of facts, contains a demand for an investigation under the authority of the peace conference. We also wish to advise your Government that the original of this document has this day been handed to the President of the United States and that copies have been transmitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States through the Secretary of State. Respectfully, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE. Hon. DAVID LLOYD-GEORGE, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, SIR: We have the honor to hand you three copies of document entitled "Re port on conditions in Ireland with demand for investigation by the peace conference," which we have this day transmitted to the President, with copy to Hon. David Lloyd-George, prime minister of England. In view of the fact that the Senate of the United States is now considering the subject of a new treaty or treaties with the Government of Great Britain, and on account of the further fact that the House of Representatives has heretofore passed a resolution in favor of Ireland's right of self-determination, which has not been acted upon by the peace conference, unless in secret session, of which we have had no advices, we respectfully request that you kindly transmit one copy of this document to the Senate and one to the House of Representatives of the United States, in conformity with the customs and practices of the State Department. With assurances of our great respect and consideration, we are, Respectfully, Hon. ROBERT LANSING, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, E. F. DUNNE. Secretary of State of the United States, Paris. AMERICAN COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE PEACE, Paris, June 7, 1919. MY DEAR MR. WALSH: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 6, inclosing the memorandum concerning conditions in Ireland and to say that I have brought it to the President's personal attention. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: We inclose you herewith paragraph inadvertently omitted from our 66 Report on conditions in Ireland with demand for investigation by the peace conference," which we had the honor of sending you upon the 6th instant. The same should be inserted under the subtitle "The revolution," on page 13 of said report. Respectfully, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris. (A similar letter and inclosure also was sent to David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister.) AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, Paris, June 8, 1919. DEAR SIR: We inclose to vou herewith two corrected copies of our Report on conditions in Ireland, with demand for investigation by the peace conference.' Will you be good enough to have these substituted for the ones heretofore transmitted, or have the necessary corrections made? Lord Chancellor of England, House of Lords, London, England. SIR: Upon the 22d ultimo, during the proceedings in the House of Lords on that date, as published in the London Times, you made a statement, in reply to a question of Viscount Midleton, as to the intentions of the prime minister with reference to giving publicity to the result of the findings of our investigation of conditions in Ireland. We beg, therefore, to submit to you herewith for presentation to the House of Lords this report, together with copies of letters addressed to Hon. David Lloyd George, prime minister. Respectfully, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE E. F. DUNNE. EDITOR LONDON TIMES, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, London, England. SIB: We have the honor to hand you herewith "Report on conditions in Ireland with demand for investigation by the peace conference," together with copies of letters addressed to the President of the United States, the American Secretary of State, and Hon. David Lloyd George, British prime minister, upon the same subject. As you are doubtless aware, charges have been made that matters deeply affecting the peace of the world, such as the condition of Ireland, are habitually suppressed by English newspapers. In order that your paper may be thoroughly advised, and that there should be no misunderstanding upon the subject later, we take this opportunity to submit the inclosed documents. Respectfully, yours, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE E. F. DUNNE. (Similar letters and Inclosures were sent to all leading English journals.) AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, Paris, June 8, 1919. SIR: Upon the 14th ultimo, during the proceedings in the House of Commons on that date, as published in the London Times, you made an official statement as to the intentions of the prime minister with reference to giving publicity to the result of the findings of our investigation of conditions in Ireland. We beg, therefore, to submt to you herewith, for transmission to the cabinet, this report, together with copies of letters addressed to His Majesty, King George V, and Hon. David Lloyd-George, prime minister. Respectfully, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE. E. F. DUNNE. Mr. BONAB LAW, Leader of the House of Commons, London, England. AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, Paris, June 8, 1919. His Majesty GEORGE V, King of Great Britain, London, England. The original of this report has been delivered to the President of the United States for presentation to the peace conference, and copies have been forwarded to Hon. Robert Lansing, American Secretary of State, for transmission to the Congress of the United States. Respectfully, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE. AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, AMERICAN COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE PEACE, Paris. GENTLEMEN: Following Mr. Lansing's letter of the 24th ultimo, conveying to us the opinion of the American Commission to Negotiate Peace that further effort to secure the issuance of safe conducts by the British Government to Messrs. de Valera, Griffith, and Plunkett would be futile and unwise, we proceeded, as you have been individually informed, to ourselves secure a hearing before your full body upon the merits of the Irish case. While making this effort we are informed that the United States Senate has passed a resolution requesting your honorable body to endeavor to secure a hearing for the same gentlemen before the peace conference in order that they might present the case of Ireland and expressing sympathy with the aspirations of th people of Ireland for a government of their own selection. In this situation we feel that further effort upon our part should be suspended until the resolution is acted upon by your honorable body. We most respectfully urge, both as American citizens and in our representative capacity, that early and favorable action be taken by your body upon the Senate resolution. If your commission concludes to so act upon the Senate resolution, and a hearing is granted by the peace conference to the Irish representatives and international recognition is accorded to the republican government set up by the people of Ireland, there will be no necessity for further demand by us upon your valuable time. Will you therefore be good enough to advise us of whatever action your honorable body may see fit to take at the earliest convenient moment? With assurances of our appreciation for other courtesies, and indulging the hope of an early response to this communication, we are, Very respectfully, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE. E. F. DUNNE. Mr. J. C. GREW, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, Paris, July 13, 1919. Secretary General American Commission to Negotiate Peace, Paris. DEAR MR. SECRETARY GENERAL: We are taking the liberty of handing you herewith letter of even date addressed to the American commission to negotiate peace, which we request that kindly hand to them at once. Sincerely, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE. AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, Paris, July 13, 1919. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: We inclose you herewith copy of letter to-day addressed to the American commission to negotiate peace, the original of which was forwarded through Secretary General Grew, and to which we respectfully request your early and kindly consideration. Sincerely, AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE. The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris. (Similar letters were sent to Messrs. Lansing, Bliss, House, and White.) AMERICAN COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE PEACE, Paris, June 14, 1919. GENTLEMEN: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 13, together with the inclosed copy of letter to the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, and to say that your letter will receive my careful consideration. Sincerely, yours, TASKER H. BLISS. AMERICAN COMMISSION ON IRISH INDEPENDENCE, Paris. |