Harry Boland to Eamon de Valera

H.B. to Chief.
Dear Mr. President,
Dispatch No. 7 to hand July 8th.1 With the opening remarks re our efforts and possibilities I am in thorough agreement and hasten to assure you that your wishes in this regard are mine - I was working to the end that all our work here should be accomplished through the A.A.R.I.R. and kindred bodies and now am happy to report that your wishes have been carried out and the following arrangements completed -

The Irish Mission now consists of the following -

(1) Mission Headquarters, 1045 Munsey Building, Washington, with staff as follows

1. H. Boland.
2. Joe Begley.
3. Stenographer.
4. Boy.
5. Liam Pedlar (Military Attaché) at New York to direct communications, etc.

In regard to (e) will I charge Military Attaché against Defence Department or my appropriation? Kindly take this matter up with the M.[inister] of D.[efence]¹ and advise me as I have suggested that this expense be borne by the M.D., but would prefer to have it charged against Mission.

(2) The Irish Consulate.

These then are our permanent institutions; all other activities are but temporary. The American Commission [for] Irish Independence is closing up the old drive, and will be taken over by Stephen O'Mara for the new Loan.

The Ben Franklin Bureau has gone out of existence, having been transferred to the A.A.R.I.R., who have taken possession of the Bureau offices as Organization Headquarters. All political activities of the A.A.R.I.R. are directed from Legislative Headquarters, 701 Southern Building, Washington, D.C. with whom I am on the closest possible terms and who will co-operate to the full with me or whoever may replace me.

The Organization Headquarters, with full staff, has been placed at the disposal of Mr. O'Mara in the interest of the new Loan, thus giving him a splendid nucleus for his Bond Drive. In other words, we have now a splendid machinery to open up the Bond Drive. It will of course be necessary to stimulate the organization so as to secure good results. This, however, is Mr. O'Mara's job. Needless to say I am here to co-operate to the full with him. I like him very much, and think the feeling is mutual, which in itself is important.

I am optimistic about the new Loan, and would be more so if it could be postponed until Spring, as trade conditions here are appalling ? some five million workers are idle at present. Against this of course we have renewed strength as a result of the Truce and the Peace pourparlers. If it becomes necessary to resume the fight you may rely on the full support of all here, reinforced by many others who have been captured by the able manner in which you and your colleagues have handled themselves.

I commend you for having taken Childers and Barton with you; their attendance at St. Paul's did great good here - you know what I mean!

I did not intend to comment on the Lloyd George letter, and hid myself from the Press. However, Cohalan's puppets opened up their sniping through Hugh O'Neill, Chicago, claiming to represent 65 affiliated societies. He passed a resolution standing behind the Republican Army etc.

I then issued a very short snappy statement urging all friends to leave the question to the men on the spot, and took a side-swipe at O'Neill and Co., in an allegorical manner. I have been complimented on my statement and have not had occasion to make further comment. Dan and Co. are now demanding my recall as a second Sims because I asked all friends of Ireland to keep hands off and leave it to the men on the spot.

I called on John D. Ryan, E. L. Doheney, Nicholas Brady, and Morgan J. O'Brien, after an hour's talk with John D. he bade me tell you that his time and fortune are at Ireland's disposal if he can aid in bringing Peace ? you know his viewpoint; it may be summed up so
Portion of letter cut out here.²
Hon Charles Murphy, M.P, Secretary of State under Sir Wilfrid Laurier, is also available and prepared to assist you should you so desire.

Frank P. Walsh is en route to Paris. He can be of service in as much as you can deal with him in any manner you think fit. Joe Scott, Kinkead, T. J. Maloney and Joe McGarrity all at your command. You may rely on all here to stand with you. Cohalan and Co. are utterly discredited. Enclosed cutting from the New Republic may be taken as the viewpoint of all decent Americans so far as Cohalan is concerned.

Joe Scott had an interview with President Harding on Friday last, seeking his good offices in the matter of the peace. Harding replied that he had already had three interviews with Geddes and that he urged the Ambassador to impress on the British Government the importance of settling the question.³

Portion of letter cut out here.

I am informed on good authority that Friend Dumont will be replaced within two months by a man who will owe his post to a good friend of ours.

I am making inquiry re the Hearst News Services. I fear it will be very difficult to secure results. You know there is no harmony between the News Services and the Editorial Departments. Editorially, they are doing wonders for us just now. News, on the other hand, depends so much on the manner in which the writer sets it up, and it generally depends on the feelings of the individual. However, I am writing Mr. Hearst again in this matter and will report results. I will also seek report from United Press re the Mannix interview.

We tried very hard to put a Boycott Resolution through the A.F.L. at Denver. Mr. Gompers was forced to use his steamroller, which he did in a style that would bring joy to the heart of a Dan Cohalan. However, though we were deprived of a vote, as Gompers ruled the Resolution out, we secured very strong Resolutions, copies of which I will forward to Under Secretary F.A. Our Chicago Labor Bureau goes over to the A.A.R.I.R.

I offer you my heartiest good wishes in your great task and pray that God may guide and strengthen you in your great trial. I can only offer myself to you without reserve; knowing you as I do I am confident that we can safely place the honour of our Nation in your hands.
'Magna est veritas et veritas praevalebit'.

P.S. I have no sympathy whatever with Donnelly. I have not seen him since his wife left New York. I understand he is going around Canada like a lost soul.

Mr. Ginnell sailed on July 2nd for Buenos Aires. I have reported fully to Under Secretary.