President De Valera's Farewell Message to America.

New Zealand Tablet, 17 March 1921, Page 21

President De Valera's Farewell Message to America.

A message of farewell to America, dictated by President Eamon de Valera before his departure for Ireland, was made public by Hon. Harry Poland. T.D.E., on December 31. It reads:—''Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, farewell. May you ever remain as I have known you, the land of the generous-hearted and the kindly. May you stand through time as they would" have you who love you Liberty's chosen champion, and oh, may you never know yourself the agony of a foreign master's lash ! I came to you on a holy mission—the mission of freedom. I return to my people who sent me, not indeed, as I had dreamed it, with the mission accomplished, but withal with a message that will cheer in the dark days that have come upon them and thai will inspire the acceptance of such sacrifices as must; vet be made. So, farewell, young, mighty, fortunate land. No wish that I can express can measure the depth of my esteem for you or my desire for your welfare and your glory. And farewell, the many dear friends I have made and the tens of thousands who, for the reason that T was the representative of a noble nation and a storied, appealing cause, gave me honor thev denied to princes. You will not need to be assured that Ireland will not forget and that Ireland will not be ungrateful. December, 1920. "Eamon de Valera."