CONFERRING THE FREEDOM OF NEWYORK ON EAMON DE VALERA

New Zealand Tablet, 15 April 1920, Page 23

CONFERRING THE FREEDOM OF NEW YORK ON EAMON DE VALERA

The occasion on which the Mayor of New York conferred the freedom of the city on President de Valera will live in history, according to the New York Times. Thousands assembled round the City Hall, carrying Sinn Fein flags, with bands of Irish pipers playing martial airs. De Valera, who was accompanied by a flock of motor cars, was escorted by a detachment of the 165th Regiment overseas veterans, led by Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Anderson. The President was greeted at the door by John H. Sinnott, Secretary to the Mayor, and de Valera got a great reception as he went up the steps through the crowd. The President and Mayor Hylan exchanged bows, and the Mayor read to de Valera the following speech: “It is a privileged honor, personal as well as official, to greet most cordially, in the person of Eamon de Valera, the President of the Irish Republic. I do so officially, as Chief Executive of the City of New York, in concord and in conformity with the resolution of the Board of Aldermen calling on me as Mayor to convey to him the welcome, in addition to the freedom, of the metropolis of the Western world, the City of New York. “The performance of this official duty also gives me personal satisfaction as an American citizen, who feels that self-determination, in principle and practice, should not be denied to the people of Ireland. The question that must be answered, sooner or later, is why Ireland, alone among the smaller nations, should be excluded from a just and legitimate share in the triumph of the late war. “Your own enthusiastic and most sincere reception throughout our glorious country and, may I say, your dignified campaign of education, coupled with a masterly presentation of safe and sane governmental policy-, have not failed to impress the American people with the justice of Ireland’s cause, and with the ultimate realisation of her national liberty and aspirations. “In the great war our nation, as a whole, demonstrated to the "world that we were governed by the high ideals of justice and independence for the oppressed of every race in every land. May we not hope that America’s altruism has made manifest to all peoples our unselfish desire that liberty, justice, self-government, and selfdetermination will prevail throughout the world. “This city is particularly proud of the record of its

sons in the war, but to you, sir, we take a special-pride in; .mentioning J the Irish regiment, dear to the ; hearts'- of us all, the glorious old Sixty-ninth. > This regiment was in the thick of t the fighting : on the Lorraine front, in the Champagne, "at Chateau-Thierry, , St. Mihiel, the • Argonne, and the River Ourcq. Hundreds of its gallant members freely offered their lives on the altar of patriotism, loyally defending the flag under which tney lived. The intrepidity and dauntless valor of these heroes proved them to be worthy sons of the indomitable race which furnished the majority of this regiment, and filled the ranks ; of others renowned for splendid service. We know that these brave ; soldiers, who fought the battles for Great Britain, France, Italy, America, and all the Allies, were sustained by the . conviction that when peace came it would be a permanent peace, because founded on justice. -

"I note that more than 70 constituencies in Ireland voted at a recent election for an independent Irish Republic, and in your person these people recognise their duly-elected leader. Whether or not the. world at large subscribes to these expressions for a separate national existence and leadership, the truth of the following may not be denied : -

" 'A portion of mankind may be said to constitute a nationality if they are united among themselves by common sympathies which do not exist between them and others, which makes them co-operate more willingly with each other than with other people, and which makes them desire to be under the same Government, and seek to be governed by themselves exclusively. This is merely saying that the question of government ought to be decided by the governed.'

'•As Mayor, I present to you, sir, the freedom of a city pre-eminent among the municipalities of the world, the peerless City of New York."

Three Cheers for Everybody. Thunderous cheers greeted the Mayor's closing words. The scroll conveying the freedom of the city was handed over to de Valera.

In his reply, President de Valera said: "I feel that to be received by the Chief Magistrate of New York City is always a high honor. To be received in the courteous, cordial manner in which you have received me makes the honor doubly prized. I do not know anything that one could suggest which could add to the significance of the two occasions on which you have received me.

"I have been singularly privileged indeed, privileged in the manner of my reception, privileged in those who have presented mo, and privileged in those who have escorted me here. But it is not strange after all, for, as the gallant son of your famed 69th said when he presented me to you on the last occasion: Mr. Mayor, your country has never hesitated to express its sympathies with the efforts of downtrodden peoples in their own home-lands to secure those blessings of liberty which you yourselves enjoy.'

“That expression of sympathy which your action and that of the Board of Aldermen so clearly conveys will be appreciated by’ the Irish people, for whom it is intended, and by the rest of the world, on whom its significance will not bo lost. On the former occasion, some six months ago, I was here with the open purpose of seeking formal and official recognition for the new sister Republic established in Ireland. I was here as the Chief Executive of that Republic, and - as that only. “Men in responsible official stations' might well be pardoned if they hesitated to receive mean obvious excuse was lying ready at their hand— New York’s heart did not let it hesitate, and New York’s example was followed by almost every great city in your mighty land.. “As your Honor’s action and the action of the Board of Aldermen on that occasion was a happy augury of the success which has attended our efforts .so far, so your action to-day is not only a certain confirmation of that success blit is, I trust, an equally happy augury of the final success which we have still to achieve. For that we pray, Mr. Mayor, and for that the whole people of the fair island, your ' neighbor over there across the Atlantic, yearns with, a yearning that only those who have long been denied their liberty can understand.”