De Valera interview with Westminster Gazette
Introduction from Chronology
De Valera gives an interview to the New York correspondent of the Westminster
Gazette in which he says that Ireland was ready to offer international
guarantees to England that Ireland would not be used as a base to attack
England – he compared such a guarantee with the Platt Amendment to the Cuban
Settlement. (A form of the Monroe
Doctrine.) This leads to conflict with
the Irish-American community and to disquiet back in Ireland.
More Detail
This statement by de Valera brought into the open simmering conflict
between de Valera and a number of Irish American leaders, in particular, John Devoy and Judge Coholan, who say
that de Valera was preparing to retreat from full independence. De Valera says
that he was mis-quoted and Devoy says that he was
offering constructive criticism but, by that time, positions had been taken.
Probably, more importantly, it would seem that de Valera did not consult
with his colleagues (in Ireland or in the States) before making his
statement. This led the Devoy/Colohan faction to believe
that de Valera was impulsive and headstrong and that he did not listen to his
colleagues.
The statement also arouses controversy in Ireland. Griffith does put out a statement in support
saying that what was written in the Westminster
Gazette “reaffirmed Mr de Valera’s assertion that Ireland was willing to
accept a British Monroe Doctrine if she was granted full independence”. De Valera dispatches Pat McCartan back to
Dublin to explain his position to the cabinet.
See Feb-17-20/2.
Also, on this day, de Valera
gives a speech in Worcester, Massacheutes in which he
outlines the moral basis for the recognition of the Republic of Ireland as (1)
that the people of every nation have a right to choose the form of government
under which they should live; (2) Ireland is a nation and (3) that the people
of Ireland had determined their government.