Comingtoamerica:Howdev
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Irish Independent I 21 November 2020 18 20|20 CENTENARY BI00DY SUNDAY Coming to America: how Dev Éamon de Valera’s 18-month tour of the US acted as a catalyst for international support for Ireland’s cause, writes Gessica Cosi he establishment of Dáil discussed the possibility of establishing a Éireann in January 1919 “worldwide organisation” directly con- brought a renewed focus on trolled from Dublin. international recognition Both in Ireland and in America, however, of the Irish Republic. From the reflections on a ‘Greater Ireland’ were T Gloucester Prison earlier profoundly interlinked with other political that month, Arthur Griffith had exhorted themes including the rising of violence the new assembly to concentrate above all” at home, the attitude towards emigration on the post-World War One peace confer- and, in particular, the role of Irish leaders ence at Versailles. He highlighted the sig- to represent Irish agenda abroad. The lat- nificance of America and Irish America for ter would create the most delicate task for the settlement of the Irish question. De Valera in America. His vision demonstrated how, by 1919, During the American campaign, Ireland’s the domestic, international and diaspo- ties with the diaspora were affected by the ra-related aspects of the struggle for Irish complex interactions with the dominant independence had become crucially inter- Irish American organisations such as Clan twined. This was reflected in the organisa- na Gael and the Friends of Irish Freedom, tion of an embryonic foreign service and, which had traditionally claimed the right a few months later — once it became clear to ‘speak’ on behalf of Ireland. They had that the case of Ireland would not be heard a growing perception of De Valera’s pres- in Paris — in the reorientation of Irish for- ence as interference in Irish-American eign policy towards the United States. domestic affairs, and the mission was beset In June, Éamon de Valera, president of by growing tensions and ideological differ- the council of ministers of the self-pro- ences between de Valera and the leaders of claimed Irish Republic, landed in New York the American move- for a tour designed to achieve international The tensions ment, John Devoy and recognition and to finance Ireland’s young Daniel F Cohalan. institutions. He travelled for 18 months between de Distinct Irish and across 36 states, addressing numerous Valera and Irish American per- legislatures and speaking before varied the Irish spectives and agen- American and Irish American platforms. American das were projected The mission acted as a catalyst for broader into the ideological, international support for Ireland’s cause. leaders in political and organ- De Valera seized on the concept of ‘Amer- 1919-20 isational arenas in icanism’ as the promotion of universal resurfaced at which de Valera and values of liberty and democracy. He fre- the Irish American quently recalled the principle of self-deter- the Irish Race leaders interacted, mination as invoked by president Woodrow Congress in including the organ- Wilson for the development of a new post- January 1922 isation of the tours, war international order and indicated its the management of application to Ireland would be a real ‘test’ the bond drive campaign and their differ- of the existing organisations, the associa- meant “direction from Ireland”. of the US values of liberty and democracy. ent approach towards American politics. tion openly challenged the New York-based The American campaign also acted as At the same time, he tried to reconcile The tensions came into the open in Febru- leadership of the Friends of Irish Freedom, a catalyst for establishing broader trans- such moral and idealistic messages with ary 1920 after de Valera’s controversial inter- reinforcing the role of individual ‘state national connections within the Irish practical considerations concerning the view with the Westminster Gazette where units’, a move that indirectly fostered a diaspora. Throughout 1920, the American financial and political potential of the Irish he referred to the relations between Cuba ‘devolution’ of power back to Ireland. mission assumed a strategic role in the in the United States. On many occasions, and the US as a possible model for Britain De Valera reflected Ireland’s image of the ‘co-ordination of Irish opinion’ abroad. De he strategically recalled their American and Ireland. Devoy and Cohalan feared this diaspora at the time. In April that year, on Valera remarked on the promotion of Irish patriotism and loyalty while offering them would strengthen the British empire. behalf of the Irish Republican Brotherhood affairs in places such as Canada, Australia a specific role in achieving Ireland’s inde- These frictions reached a climax with supreme council, Collins had explained and South America. pendence. the foundation of a new organisation, the that the Irish in Ireland looked at an inter- The tensions between de Valera and the This was a vision shared by other prom- American Association for the Recogni- national organisation “having the purely Irish American leaders in 1919-20 resur- inent nationalists including Harry Boland tion of the Irish Republic in November. Irish aspect as the first object” of its exist- faced at the Irish Race Congress in January and Michael Collins who, by early 1920, had Designed to promote the ‘democratisation’ ence. He later clarified that this simply 1922, when delegates from 21 countries 21 November 2020 I Irish Independent 19 harnessed the Irish diaspora Éamon de Valera: ‘English propaganda will no longer have here the fertile field for its seeds of falsehood’ From ‘Éamon de Valera Private Correspondence’, UCD Archives December 28, 1919 From the Waldorf-Astoria, New York My darling wife, I spent 24, 25, 26th with mother — but it was by no means the private visit I had hoped it would be. There was good work of a public character to be done and so I spent most of the time doing it. It was however a consolation seeing that I could not be at my own home to be at mother’s. I was thinking of you and the children all the time — It was I know lonely for you. Three Xmas’s absent out of four is a big proportion. Please God it will not be our fate to be separated the coming Christmas. I am making Washington DC my headquarters as I write to you and An order form for phonograph records letters should be addressed to me of speeches by Éamon de Valera. Clockwise from above: republicans Harry Boland, Liam Mellows, Éamon de Valera, there. Put two envelopes on — on PHOTO: UCD/OFM PARTNERSHIP Patrick McCartan and Diarmuid Lynch with John Devoy (seated) in the US in 1919 or 1920; the outside one “Personal” and on Inset below: a photo of the original of de Valera in Los Angeles; with two US soldiers; and in a Native American headdress. the inner — “Private from Mrs de Dev’s letter to his wife Sinéad from COURTESY: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND Valera”. That will ensure that it will the Waldorf Astoria. PHOTO: UCD ARCHIVES come to me without being opened by a secretary. am confident that all we desire here As you have said in your letters the can be accomplished. I have seen men greatest privation is to be unable to and women old and young in tears correspond freely. — tears of emotion Mother was anxious because they have to know if Dr Lalor seen the day when gave you the photos the people of of my early days.I Ireland have boldly have one in which proclaimed what I look very like they had secretly Ruaidhrí. By the way, hoped for so long. Joe McGarrity, one English of the best Irishmen propaganda will no in America, has a longer have here young son — I am the fertile field to be godfather and for its seeds of gathered in Paris to discuss the diaspora’s 1922 and its republican trajectory, the issue the question is what falsehood. English political, cultural and economic contribu- of direction and, in particular, the Treaty name. I am against imperial selfishness tion to the cause of independence. split would force a temporary disengage- saddling a child is apparent to all The presence of multiple agendas and ment of Irish political discourse from dias- with a “Christian” now, and the war expectations within the different Irish com- pora affairs. There was a shift of attention name DeValera and necessity of blinding munities abroad contributed to a constant towards a complex domestic situation that suggested Ruaidhrí themselves to the reassessment of Ireland’s diasporic connec- reached its climax during the Civil War. in memory of a obvious is removed. tions during the War of Independence. great friend of his whom our Ruaidhrí I will be thinking of you particularly The support of the Irish diaspora was ⬤ Dr Gessica Cosi’s doctoral thesis at commemorates. on the 8th. reaffirmed through fundraising missions, UCD was titled ‘Atlantic Connections: Everything is going as well for Love of my heart to the children. propaganda and lobbying. It was an essen- Éamon de Valera, the United States and Ireland as could be expected here. Remember I will not be an hour away tial pillar of Ireland’s campaign for interna- Irish America, 1917-1921’. She is a former If we can organize so as to make from you longer than is necessary. tional recognition from 1919 to early 1922. visiting fellow at the UCD Clinton effective all the forces in our favour I DeV. The stalemate at Irish Race Congress in Institute and UCD School of History Middle man: Eamon de Valera (circled) travelled for 18 months across 36 states, addressing numerous legislatures and speaking before varied American and Irish American platforms COURTESY: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND.