Washington, D.C., January 21, 1998 -- Irish-Americans are
shocked and outraged by the malicious attack by the former U.S.
Ambassador to Britain, Mr. Raymond Seitz, on the present U.S.
Ambassador to Ireland, Ms. Jean Kennedy Smith.
"Mr. Seitz' attack is outrageously false and maliciously
mischievous," said Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Irish
National Caucus, the Capitol Hill-based Irish lobby.
"His attack will not damage the high standing of Jean Kennedy
Smith, who is loved and
respected by Irish-Americans, but it does tell us
a lot about Mr. Seitz. It
also explains why -- given people like Mr. Seitz -- previous U.S.
foreign policy on Northern Ireland was so pathetic, until it was
utterly changed by President Clinton, to his everlasting credit.
President Clinton and Jean Kennedy Smith are the peacemakers,
whereas Mr. Seitz is a malicious begrudger," he concluded.
