Archbishop Mannix to defy British PM and land in Ireland
New York, 30 July 1920 - Daniel Mannix, the Irish-born catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, is setting sail for Ireland tomorrow from America despite the fact that the British Prime Minister told the House of Commons earlier this week that, in view of Dr Mannix’s ‘recent utterances’, the archbishop would not be allowed to land in the country of his birth.
Speaking in New York, Dr Mannix was dismissive of Lloyd George’s warning not to travel to Ireland, saying there was no ‘better proof of the jumpy, frenzied condition of British politicians than in Mr Lloyd George’s fear in allowing me to set foot in my native land.’ Dr Mannix added that the Prime Minister was looking to prevent him from speaking the ‘same unvarnished truths’ as he has been speaking in the United States and which have, it is understood, been reported back verbatim to the British government.
Questions as to the legality of the government’s decision have been raised; it has been claimed that no lawful impediment can be placed on the landing of a British subject, which Dr Mannix is, on these shores. The Daily News in England has asked: ‘Who is going to apply the physical force against the landing of a British subject on the soil of his native country without trial, because of hearsay evidence of speeches delivered in America? Constitutionally, ‘DORA’ or no ‘DORA’, the thing cannot be done.’
The planned visit of Archbishop Mannix, who is due to land at Queenstown in his home county of Cork, has given rise to great excitement in Ireland. In Dublin, the Lord Mayor has received a request signed by practically all parties, calling for the Freedom of the City to be conferred on the archbishop.
[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.]
