Mr. Do Valera's message to the Pope was as follows
:-
" The people of Ireland have read tho message sent by your Holiness to the King of Great Britain, and appreciate your kindly interest in their welfare and the paternal regard which suggested it. I tender to your Holiness their gratitude. They are confident that the ambiguities in reply sent in the name of King George will not mislead you, as it may the uninformed, into believing that the troubles are in Ireland or that the people of Ireland own allegiance to the British King. The independence of Ireland has been formally proclaimed by regularly elected representatives of the people of Ireland, and ratified by subse- quent plebiscites. The trouble is between Ireland and Britain and its source. The rulers of Britain had sought to impose their will upon Ireland, and by brutal force have endeavoured to rob her people of liberty, which is their natural right and their ancient heritage. We long to be at peace and in friendship with the people of Britain, as with other peoples, but the same constancy through persecution and martyrdom that has proved
the reality of our people's attachment to the faith of their fathers, proves the reality of their attachment to their national freedom, and no consideration will ever induce them to abandon it."
