1 Kavanagh Lajoie & Lacoste Advocates M.J Kavanagh, K.C., H Gerin-Lajoie, K.C., Paul Lacoste, K.C., Alex Lacoste, L.L.B, Henri Gerin-Lajoie, B.C.L., Alexandre Gerin-Lajoie, L.L.L. Hon Sir Alexandre Lacoste, K.C., Counsel 7/C Cable Address LALOI, Belle Telephones: MAin 8675 Provincial Bank Building, 7 Place d'Armes, Montreal February 23rd 1920 J.C. Walsh Esq., American Commission on Irish Independence, 411 Fifth Avenue, New York, U.S.A. Dear Walsh:- I wrote Mr. Frank P. Walsh thanking him for
the three copies of his report he sent me at your request;
now, let me thank you. They are properly placed; do send me
some more . -- Gratitude a sense of favours to come ! I hope Lord Shaughnessy will propose Canada, and
McKenzie-King will answer; that Ireland will be proposed by
the speaker from the United States, and Guerin's suggestion is
that the answer should be by Mr. O'Farrell who, you remember,
was with T.P.O'Connor when the latter made that amusing speach
at the Canadian Club some years ago. About a month ago there was a meeting in my office to
determine Self Determination. Doctor Guerin, Emmet Walsh,
Quirk, Trihey, Wickham and Arthur Phelan were here. Then, there
was a meeting of delegates from societies, and the Irish Canadian
National League was projected. As our friends in the States have
been careful to be American, we are and must be Canadian. 2 Kavanagh Lajoie & Lacoste -2- If their impulse is sentiment, our impelling motive is the same
plus our duty as citizens of a part of what used to be known as
the British Empire, and which is now spoken of as the Commonwealth,
and with whose reputation the English part of it is playing the
devil. if this be so, is'nt it the duty of this country and of
its citizens to protest against the devilish game as strongly
as our weakness will allow. Canadians have a duty in this which
Americans have not. On the one hand, there is difficulty in
being undetstood by some of our own people, and on the other
hand there will be greater difficulty in making our protest
understood by Canadians who have no sympathy with us. I am
told that the activities of our new organization will probably
hurt us all. Tant mieux. Sympathy with the suffering Irish
means suffering with them. Is'nt that the etymology of the
word ? And, by way of putting principles into practice and
making you practise them, don't let me hear you growl if
you have to suffer these lenghty lucrub r ations, and that as that
dear old Tory, Father Prout, would sneeringly call them. With kindest regards to yourself, and mes salutations respectueuses à Madame, Yours faithfully, Henry J. Kavanagh