Archbishop Mannix arrives in New York and announces plan to land on ‘soil of the Irish Republic’
New York, 23 July 1920 - The Irish-born Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, has arrived in New York and declared his intention to travel to Ireland.
Cork-born Mannix was given a civic reception in New York on 17 July and afforded the freedom of the city by the Mayor of New York, John Hylan. Dr Mannix was joined by Éamon de Valera and in the course of his speech he made some pointed remarks about the US President, Woodrow Wilson.
‘We have had no welcome in this country from President Wilson’, he said, ‘but we have had one from those who made him president’. Archbishop Mannix added that he was not motivated by ‘hate’ of England or the British people, but of love for Ireland and the desire to see President Wilson’s principles applied to England and Ireland as well as to Germany and Belgium. ‘I do not say that President Wilson has forgotten his principles, and I honour him for having enunciated them, no matter how far short they have fallen of realisation.’
Dr Mannix said he felt sure that a plebiscite of American opinion would reveal an overwhelming majority in favour of recognition of the Irish Republic.
He also addressed rumours about opposition to his proposed trip to Ireland: ‘It has been delicately suggested that I may not be permitted to land on British soil’, he said. ‘I have no intention of landing on British soil. I am going to land on the soil of the Irish Republic.’
The prospects of a visit from Dr Mannix was raised yesterday in the House of Commons, when the British Prime Minister was pressed as to whether, in light of the archbishop’s ‘dangerous political views’, certain steps would be taken if he ever attempted to land in the UK. Lloyd George said that he was aware of the 'mischievous speeches' that Archbishop Mannix had been making and said that the government would decide what action to take before he arrived.
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
