THE IRISH MISSION IN FRANCE

New Zealand Tablet, 1 July 1915, Page 15

THE IRISH MISSION IN FRANCE

A REMARKABLE AND IMPORTANT EVENT. The mission of the Irish delegation to Paris in 1915 was one of the most successful on record, and it will live in history as one of the most remarkable and important'events of our time (writes the special correspondent of the Dublin Freeman’s Journal). It exhibited the union of all France, the head of the great Celtic race in welcoming the representatives of Ireland a nation, and of the Irish race throughout the world, and the union of France and Ireland in the renewal of the historic friendship which has always existed between them, and in their mutual pledges of affection and goodwill towards each other, and of sympathy and support for the cause of nationality and liberty which they in common with Great Britain, Russia, and Serbia are at present in arms to defend and to vindicate. The objects of the delegation were to present an address to the Car-dinal-Archbishop of Paris, as head of the Catholic Church in France, from the A.0.H., the largest Irish Catholic benefit organisation which has ever existed, and to present an address to the President of France assuring him in the name of the Irish Parliamentary Party and of the Irish people of Ireland’s sympathy and support in the present war. Entertained at Luncheon. On Friday morning, in acceptance of the kind invitation of M. Leygues, the delegates drove to the magnificent residence of that gentleman where they were entertained at luncheon. Among those present were the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, M. Franklin -Bouillon, Deputy Jean Longue, the leader of the Socialist Party in the Chamber of Deputies; M. Moutet, Socialist Deputy for Lyons : the Marquis de Chambrom, one of the leading Catholic Deputies; M. Honnorat, and M. On trey, Deputies. M. Leygues occupies a palatial mansion on the right bank of the Seine, and the delegates were charmed with the beauty of the place which contains many treasures of art. Nothing could exceed the kindness and hospitality of Mine. Leygues and her daughter and niece. The flag of Ireland was hung on the wall at the head of the table, and the miniature flags representing Ireland and the Allies were used as table decorations. Afterwards the company were entertained by the singing of a couple of beautiful Irish songs by Mr. O’Dowda Wade, and Mr. Tom Condon, M.P., gave a magnificent rendering of ‘ Garryowen,’ which thrilled and delighted all present. In response to the request of some of the delegates Mdlle" Leygues presented them with miniature flags of the Allied nations as souvenirs. It was the delegate’s first experience of what a French home was like, and they were pleased and touched beyond measure. Before leaving Paris they sent a beautiful bouquet to Mdme. Leygues as a token of their appreciation. After leaving M. Leygues, the delegates drove to the Chamber of Deputies, where thev were received with every mark of honor by the officials and all concerned.. They were shown over the building by MM. FranklinBouillon and Leygues, who explained the manner in which the proceedings were conducted, the grouping of parties, and the architectural artistic features of the place. Following this the delegates waited on the Prime Minister, M. Viviani, who received them with every mark of honor and respect, and bade them heartily welcome to Franco. He inquired kindly about Mr, John Redmond, M.P., and prayed that his very kind regards might be conveyed to the Irish leader. Then followed a visit to the President of the Republic, M. Poincare. Visit to the Cardinal. The delegates then drove to the Palace of the Car-dinal-Archbishop of Paris, where they met with a particularly cordial reception. Amongst those present with the delegation were the veteran M. Denys Cochin, the Catholic leader, and the Marquis de Chambron, both of whom have personal associations with Ireland and her people.. The address to tlje Cardinal-Arch-

bishop "from. the ; A..0.H. was read by Mr. Joseph ’Dev-:, lin, M.P., the distinguished president of the. A.0.H., and was presented by' him and Mr. J. D. Nugent, general secretary, on behalf of the members. The address was beautifully illuminated and mounted and enclosed in a handsome casket. The Cardinal-Arch-bishop made a long and eloquent, even passionate, speech in reply. His references to the bonds uniting Ireland and France were touching and beautiful, but when he came to denounce German aggression and savagery, and the outrages on religion and humanity committed by Germans in Belgium and in France, his emotion was evident, and his words thrilled his audience. Nothing was more remarkable than his emphasising the union of all Frenchmen against the common enemy of their Fatherland, except the touching reference to his friend, M. Denys Cochin, whose son has recently been killed at the front. Afterwards the members of the delegation were introduced in turn to his Eminence, and were photographed with him in a group. Before leaving they all knelt down to receive his Eminence’s blessing, and the scene was certainly an unforgettable one for all present. Mr. J. D. Nugent, was specially honored by his Eminence, who presented him with an autographed photograph as a memento of the occasion.

An Unqualified Success.

The day had been full of incident for the delegation, but Mr. T. P. O’Connor apparently knows not fatigue, and after dinner at his hotel he held a reception, at which all the leading Paris journalists were present. It was their unanimous testimony that the honors paid to the delegation were unprecedented, and that it was beyond all question an unqualified success in every way. This was borne out by one of the most eminent of the French deputies, who told the writer, with the assent of all his colleagues present, ‘ If you were the representatives, of emperors or of kings we could not receive you with greater honor or respect, and certainly we could not treat you with the same unanimity on the part of all Frenchmen.’ On Saturday the delegates were entertained at luncheon in the Palais D’Orsay, their hosts being the French nation through all its highest and most representative delegates. There was no precedent for such

an event. It was unique. Church and State were represented, all uniting in doing honor to Ireland a nation. The building is one of the largest and most beautiful in Paris, and the spacious banqueting hall was taxed to its utmost capacity to accommodate those present. The room was decorated with the Irish, French, British, and Allied flags, and the tables with miniature flags and flowers. The menu was specially prepared, and the menu card was a work of art. The company was verv remarkable. Beside M. Bourgeois, who presided, sat to the right the British Ambassador, Sir Francis Bertie ; Mr. Joseph Devlin, M.P. ; M. Delcasse, Foreign Minister; M. Denys Cochin, Catholic Leader, and others. To the left of the President was Mr. T. P. O’Connor, M.P. : then M. Yiviani, the Prime Minister; Mr. J. D. Nugent, and others. The Marquis de Chambron, Catholic Conservative, was beside Mr. Longuet, the Socialist leader, and Father McMullen had on his left the Mayor of Paris, and on his right M. Poisson.

The Speakers and Their Speeches.

The speeches of M. Bourgeois, M. Viviani, and M. Denys Cochin evoked great enthusiasm. But interest was not less centred on the speeches of Messrs. T. P. O’Connor and Joseph Devlin, M.P. ‘T.P.’ spoke in French, with, if possible, even greater eloquence, ease, and charm than he speaks in English. He was listened to with breathless interest, and when he concluded his audience burst into loud and long applause. Mr. Devlin’s speech was brief, and was delivered in English, but .the greatest interest was manifested in it, as Mr. Devlin’s reputation as an Orator, and a democratic leader stands very high amongst French politicians. Delivered with all the elocution and earnestness so characteristic of him, Mr. Devlin’s speech thrilled the

audience, and he sat down amidst applause, again and again renewed. Of the other speeches it need only be said that they were worthy of the occasion and of the best traditions of French oratory. One of the most notable and interesting of the speeches was delivered by the British Ambassador (Sir Francis Bertie), who is much loved and respected in Paris. He congratulated Mr. O’Connor on being the hero of the visit, and expressed his thanks on behalf of the British Government for the reception given by France to the representatives of Ireland. Irishmen will appreciate what this little incident means in the changed relations which have come to exist between Ireland and the Empire. Afterwards the delegation proceeded to

The Hotel de Ville,

where a reception was given by the Mayor, the Prefect of the Seine, the Chief of Police, and other high officials of the municipality of Paris, in honor of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the Mayor of Clonmel, and the delegation generally. A number of speeches of welcome were delivered, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin replied in a speech very felicitously worded, and which, when translated into French by the eloquent and versatile M. Franklin-Bouillon, was loudly applauded. A very happy and eloquent little speech was delivered in English by Mr. Tom Condon, M.P., Mayor of Clonmel, who was a great favorite everywhere. The Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Mayor iff Clonmel wore their civic robes and chains of office. After the speeches the members of the delegation were honored very specially by being requested to write their names in the famous ‘ Book of Gold ’ of Paris, in which are recorded all the most important events in the history of the municipality. Mr. T. P. O’Connor made another speech in French, and then the delegates were conducted over the building, which is of great magnificence, having cost a sum equal to over two million pounds English money. In the basement women and girls were employed making up pillows for the wounded at the front and in the hospitals, and men are engaged packing pipes and tobacco and cigarettes for the men in the trenches. Some members of the delegation were presented with pipes as souvenirs. Outside the Hotel do Ville an immense crowd had collected, and the delegates were cheered again and again, and greeted with cries of ’ Vi vent les Irlandais ’ and Vivent nos Amis,’ in reply to which the delegates called for cheers for France. There was some little time to spare after leaving the Hotel de Ville, and some of the delegates took advantage of it to take a motor run round the principal places of interest. Amongst other places they visited

The Irish Church in Paris,

where they were warmly welcomed by the Fathers at Notre Dame. The Lord Mayor of Dublin was enthusiastically greeted by some of the clergy, the very names of Dublin and Ireland visibly affecting them with emotion. On Saturday night the delegates entertained MM. Franklin-Bouillon and Leygues to dinner at the Hotel Crillon. There was also present the Paris representative of the Manchester Guardian. T.P.’ presided, and the proceedings were most interesting. Speeches were delivered by ‘ T.P.’ now in French and then in English, and by M. Franklin-Bouillon, who is a close rival to ‘ T.P.’ in his mastery of language and his felicity of speech and charm and simplicity of manner. Mr. Devlin delivered a speech of eloquence and power. Mr. Hugh Law, M.P., spoke eloquently in French, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin was very happy indeed in a little speech which was quite extempore. Messrs. O’Connor, Devlin, and the other speakers paid tribute to the kindness and zeal of MM. FranklinBouillon and Leygues, who gracefully responded. Another very happy*speech was made by Father McMullen, who became a warm favorite with everybody. This wound up the series of meetings and engagements.

Departure from Paris

On Sunday morning, at 7.30, the delegates attended a special Mass, celebrated by Father McMullen at the Madeleine, and shortly afterwards they left Paris by the Nord train. At the station MM. FranklinBouillon and Leypus, and many other deputies and

prominent people, assembled to bid them ‘ au revoir ’ and ‘ bon voyage,’ and as the traifi shortly steamed out of the station, all the officials stood to the salute, and cheers were given for Ireland and for France. The journey back to Boulogne was made in good time through a beautiful and most interesting country. At Boulogne Mr. Cox, the courteous and accomplished official who represents Scotland Yard, made the matter of passports very easy for us, as did the French and English officials generally, and we made a splendid journey across the Channel to Folkestone, and thence to Victoria Station, where we arrived at about nine o’clock on Sunday night. These hurried notes were only made to string together in some connected way the series of events of which the delegation was the occasion. The importance of the delegation and its reception will grow with time. The whole thing must become a great historic memory and landmark for Ireland, for France, aye, and for Great Britain and the world. Ireland’s title to nationhood can no longer be questioned. France, which was the co-liberator of America, and the first to recognise American Independence, has been the first to acclaim Ireland a self-governed nation within the British Empire. That is a great fact which cannot be altered or gainsaid. Again Catholic France and Catholic Ireland have been joined once more by a common peril and a common sorrow in bonds of affection and imperishable love. The Celtic race are prouder than ever they were because of the delegation, and these races stand for liberty, civilisation, religion, and progress in the best sense of the terms. The delegation has made these things clear to the world. That is its justification now, and will be its glory in the future.