authenticated properly. They both promised to do so. It was my good luck in meeting some of the truly wonderful characters in America, men who had contributed so unselfishly over many years to the cause of Irish Independence. Some of these names have been mentioned already in connection with activities, however, one of the most outstanding ones were former Major Michael Enright, native of Co. Kerry, later of Chicago, Illinois. This man, with forty other volunteers wended their way all the way from Chicago out to South Africa there to take fight on the side of the Boers. During that trip, Enright, ?? (tape is garbled here) had the great pleasure of becoming a friend of the late Major McBride who was executed by the British in 1916. In a book written by Michael Davitt (??) there is a picture of this Chicago group, and up to the time that I got to America I had never even heard of this wonderful contribution these courageous men had made. It was my good look to be a personal friend of Major Enright and also of a few others who were still alive at that time. I well remember going to see Major Enright, telling him that Joe McGarrity was purchasing a seat on the Exchange and the Major there and then gave me a sum of no less than $9000 Dollars for just the proceeds of a 100 shares of stock he had sold. Meanwhile he was working in the City Hall in Chicago. Subsequently, Joe McGarrity lost the seat on the Exchange, and when I went and apologized to Major Enright, later, the major said to me "Even if I had ten times the fear (?) and even if I knew I was going to lose it I would still give it to Joe McGarrity." This was the general esteem of so many in America concerning the late Joe McGarrity. But it must be remembered too that there are so many, many others who were equally outstanding: The great Major Kinkead, Luke Dillon, (next names garbled) ..??.. of Los Angeles, Father York, San Francisco (??) [Belt No. 3 Page 3] Michael Mullane, Montana Dick Dalton New York, Bernie Downes who helped ... ???.. two American while he was working on the Transatlantic Lines, Doctor William Malloney who wrote the book on the Casement Diaries, and was some tremendous resource who organized the big protest meetings in Washington on behalf of the Irish cause back in 1919, 20 and 21. [Belt No. 4 Page 1] It was a great honour for me to become a personal friend of Major Eugene Kinkead who was born in Buttevant, Co. Cork subsequently, he became a Congressman in New Jersey and later on a member of President Wilson's Cabinet. The Major was one of the most active men in the Irish Independence Movement and was responsible for including men like the oilman Edward G. Doheny (?) Edward Ryan (?) of Chicago (check names here) and many others into the fold. The Major with other members of the Irish-American Delegation requested an interview with Pres. Wilson before his visit to Versailles, after WW I. The President balked and his Secretary Mr. Joseph Tumulty (?) was informed on a Friday by Judge Galk (or Gawed??) from New York City (check names again) that he demanded his constitutional rights and insisted that the President should meet them; Wilson then agreed to meet them at the New York Metropolitan Opera House on the following Monday night. On that delegation were Bishop Muldoon, Teddy (?) Walsh, Major Kinkead, Judge Cohalan, and others. When President Wilson saw Judge Cohalan he objected to his presence and said he refused to meet with the delegation if Judge Cohalan was one of them. Judge Cohalan, being the big man that he was said "The cause is bigger than any one man” and he immediately retired. Later, in putting forward the Irish case to be heard of his side, President Wilson butted in and turning to Major Kinkead he said “It was not my understanding Major that I was supposed to bring up the question of Irish Independence or Irish Freedom at Versailles." The Major snapped back at him and replied "That's the only reason we are here and that's the only reason we ever gave our help to this deputation." Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Major had to resign on account of his abuse of the President. Later on, when Wilson was at Versailles the Major wrote a letter to him and in it he finished up by saying "Even if you bring peace and freedom to all the world, and you do not bring it to Ireland, then your entire mission has been in vain.” That letter, or a copy of it, is in the Dublin Library [Belt No. 4 Page 2] right now. Subsequently, the Major was attending the first meeting called by Mr. DeValera in Madison Square Gardens, New York, when and it was done so, he was introduced as "The Man who said NO to the President”. The Major was one of the most outstanding supporters of the Irish Cause and there was no appeal ever coming from Ireland that he was not mainly responsible for getting strong financial support. Others who sacrificed a great deal was, for one, G O'Leary, born in Brooklyn who was so antagonistic to the general injustice meted out to Ireland - speaking at Street Corners, and all over the country - that he was finally forced to go
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