Memorandum by Timothy A. Smiddy on visit to Chicago

On the occasion of my visit to Chicago with the Bremen Crew, I had the opportunity of meeting many prominent citizens of Irish extraction, but who have not been mixed up with Irish political movements, and who expressed great pride at the fact that Ireland was gaining a prestige in this country of which they are proud. They attribute the acceleration of this tendency to the recent visit of President Cosgrave and Mr. Desmond FitzGerald who, by their appearance, behaviour, manners and addresses gave the average American an opinion of Irishmen which was not in conformity with the views that they had heretofore held, and impressed them with a sense of dignity and refinement which has made the better class Irish in this country feel very proud.

I have been informed by several people in Chicago that the President's visit there has done a great deal to weaken the adherents of Mr. de Valera and, being now followed up by the great acclaim accorded to Major Fitzmaurice, and the presence of the Irish Free State flag everywhere, has impressed upon many honest followers of de Valera the fact that the Irish Free State is a sovereign country.