Timothy Smiddy to Desmond FitzGerald

Dear Mr. FitzGerald:
With reference to Mrs. M[a]cSwiney's¹ visit to the U.S.A. I have learnt that at a meeting held on her behalf in New York on last Sunday week there were collected $1,035. At a bazaar got up for the purpose of funds $3,000 were collected.

She is to speak here on next Sunday, 24th inst., and the organisers who are working in Washington on her behalf are using every effort to obtain at the meeting and a bazaar funds to exceed those obtained in New York. Four of the organisers expressed themselves as being disappointed at the falling off of interest in the cause of de Valera, and as very dissatisfied with the results of the activities of the Irregulars in Ireland. They stated that the Irregulars do not take prisoners, whereas the National Army do so, and thereby gradually diminish the effective personnel of their army. They stated that something of a drastic nature must be done to set off this disadvantage under which the Irregulars work. (In their conversation they refer to the Irregulars as Repulicans).

At a meeting they had here last night they said they had a very small gathering whereas last year they would have an overflow meeting. They stated among themselves that their cause was on the wane in the U.S.A.

At a Mass celebrated yesterday specially in commemoration of Mr. Arthur Griffith and General Michael Collins at St Patrick's Church, Washington, there was a good attendance: the Church was full though not crowded. There were 17 officials from the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic (the Organisation which is supporting Mr. de Valera) at the Mass to listen to the sermon which was not worthy of the occasion. The preacher endeavoured not to hurt the susceptibilities of the supporters of Mr. de Valera.