1
American Commission on Irish Independence
Frank P. Walsh Chairman 411 Fifth Avenue
New York December Eighteenth
Nineteen Nineteen To:
State Chairmen,
City Chairmen,
Speakers' Bureau: Gentlemen:- Mr. Mason, author of the Mason Bill, is being
mot on all sides with the statement that the American Legion
is opposed to recognition of the Republic of Ireland and many
seem to think he is doing a serious thing in antagonizing this
body. It appears that some of the Posts are sending out very
strong protests against the recognition of the Republic of
Ireland. Of course, this is done by individual Posts which
do not represent the spirit of the American Legion but are
being used for English propaganda. This imposes a duty on all of us, and I would
suggest
that we ought to be as active as our opponents. There must be
many Posts in which our friends are numerous enough to secure
the passage of strong resolutions favorable to the Mason Bill,
and if this were done the influence of hostile action by other
Posts would be effectively counteracted. Some of our friends
are very sensitive to attacks like this one, and we must do all
in our power to reassure them. Resolutions of support should be passed wherever we
are holding meetings of our own and proper publicity obtained. Yours very truly
Frank P. Walsh
Chairman
Frank P. Walsh (1864-1939), was an American lawyer and political reformer. He was
one of the chief architects of the legislative struggle against industrial exploitation
of children and an advocate of Irish and anti-imperialist causes. He also fought for
civil liberties and was a labour partisan and staunch New Dealer. Walsh was a member
of the Irish-American delegation (along with Michael J. Ryan and Edward F. Dunne)
who were appointed to represent Ireland at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. On
10 April 1919 the delegation arrived in Paris. The men returned to America in July
1919 where Walsh began working with the Dail External Loan (Bond Drive).
In this letter references are made to Mr. Mason a member of the American Legion, who
was opposed to the Irish republic. This is being labelled as English propaganda. Walsh
urges the chairmen to engage in more activity to counteract the work of opponents
like Mr Mason. Walsh's aim was to obtain positive publicity by doing so.