A collection of British documents and letters relating to 1916 which form a file within the Papers of Éamon de Valera. The documents include intelligence reports, despatches, and correspondence between Irish Command, Home Forces, the War Office, M.I.5.G., and the Royal Irish Constabulary. The documents cover the immediate aftermath of the 1916 Rising, the executions of the leaders, and the general political situation in Ireland at the time.
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Holograph letter from journalist and unionist Robert John Lynn, The Northern Whig Office, Belfast to Maxwell. Marked 'Very confidential'. Writes that he has heard a rumour 'that the Guards intends to seize the arms of the Ulster Volunteer Force', an act he regards as 'fraught with grave danger to the public peace. Our people have behaved splendidly during the past critical week and it would be a grave pity if anything was done now that would influence public opinion'. It is his opinion that 'the seizure of the arms ... would be looked upon as an act of treachery'.
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Typescript letter from Neville Chamberlain, Royal Irish Constabulary Office, Dublin Castle to Maxwell. Marked 'Confidential'. Includes handwritten comments. Requests advice from Maxwell on handling meetings with unarmed 'known Sinn Feiners' pointing out the undesirability of such gatherings. Supports similar meetings of Redmonites and 'Bodies of Ulstermen'. Includes reports from around the country, noting his opinion that the GAA is not a 'loyal' organisation.
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Typescript communication from Frank Hall, M.I.5, War Office, London SW to Brigadier-General R. Hutchison, D.S.O, G.H.Q, Dublin marked 'Secret and Personal'. Reports that 'all is well in the North'. Discusses suspected spies, including 'a known German agent, .. We find .. is a Sinn Fein suspect and the son of an old I.R.B. suspect ...'. Reports that he has learned from one correspondent who was caught in Malahide on Easter Monday that 'From what he saw and heard the general bulk of the people about that district, especially up towards Swords were merely waiting for the slightest sign of success on the part of the Sinn Feiners in Dublin to join the rebellion although they are credited with Redmondite loyalty'. Comments on the forthcoming Casement trial. Mentions meeting General Hackett Pain (sic) and Commissioner Smith.
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Holograph letter to General Maxwell from John Dillon M.P., 2 North Georges St., Dublin protesting about the executions. 'The feeling is becoming widespread and intensely bitter.– It really would be difficult to exaggerate the amount of mischief that the executions are doing'. Also advises against the arming of 'Special Constables', '…it is a unwise measure…they are not required…And…are very apt in my opinion to create disturbance'. Also advises against 'instituting searching and arrests on a large scale in districts in which there has been no disturbance'.
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Copies of cipher messages marked 'Secret' between the Prime Minister in London (via 'Cinchomfor') and Dublin (via 'Commandeth') on the course of executions between 9th and 11th of May. Asquith notes 'with satisfaction that in your opinion there are now not more that two leaders who must suffer extreme penalty.' Asks for report on Connolly's condition.
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Special Branch, Metropolitan Police, New Scotland Yard communications relating to a letter addressed to Mrs. A.S. Green, Westminster, containing a letter for Prof. Eoin MacNeill, which was stopped by the Censor. Includes copies of the texts of both letters. The letter for Prof. MacNeill includes an 'Official Declaration of the German Government, stating its intentions and declaring the goodwill of the German people toward Ireland and the desire of both Government and People for Irish national freedom' (originally dated 28 November 1914, 3 p.). Also attached is a copy of a communiqué (originally dated 23 May 1916, 1p) from M.I.5.G. concerning the landing of German ammunition and Irish supporters at Banna Strand and Sir Roger Casement's landing on 20 April 1916.
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Typescript letter from Hutchison, Headquarters, Irish Command, Parkgate St., Dublin to the Editor, Freeman's Journal, Dublin informing him that Maxwell regards its reporting concerning the administration of Martial Law in Ireland as unacceptable 'and that the appearance of any further articles of this nature in any newspaper under your control will render you liable to immediate action being taken under the provisions of the Defence of the Realm Act'.
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Typescript copy of a public notice Proclamation No. 1 issued by General Maxwell, informing the rebels that 'the most vigorous measures will be taken by me to stop the loss of life and damage to property which certain misguided persons are causing by their armed resistance to the Law'. Specifies arrangements by which persons within specified areas surrounded by British troops may leave those areas.
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Handwritten paraphrase copies of cipher messages between the War Office and General Maxwell, marked 'Secret', concerning Mrs. Pearse's request to be given her two sons' bodies for burial in consecrated ground. Maxwell refuses on the grounds that 'It will have to be done in all cases if done in one and Mrs. Pearse has already been refused by me–These graves will be turned by Irish sentimentality into the shrines of martyrs and there will be a constant irritant in the country caused by annual procession etc. to them'.
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Copy typescript intelligence report marked 'Secret' from Headquarters, Irish Command, to Lieutenant Colonel V.G. Kell, M.I.5.G., General Staff, War Office [London], on the 'State of Ireland' discussing recruiting levels in the country for British forces in the War, and the organisation and operation of 'the Sinn Fein Volunteer movement'. Includes tables of estimates 'of the strength of the Sinn Fein party in each County in Ireland, and the number of arms of which they are in possession' and the 'Approximate number of disloyal Sinn Fein Irish Volunteers in Dublin City'.
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Circular memorandum by J. Byrne, Inspector General, Royal Irish Constabulary to Inspectors throughout the country, relating to a conference held 'for the purpose of an interchange of views between the West-Coastal County Inspectors and the Military & Naval Authorities' (11 January 1917, 8 p.). Encloses a précis of the proceedings of the conference whose aim was to ensure 'satisfactory co-operation between the Military & Naval Forces and the Police in the event of trouble arising' ([December 1916], 6 p.).
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Typescript note from the Director of Military Intelligence [Lieutenant General Sir George Mark Watson Macdonogh] to the Under Secretary, Irish Office [Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan], presenting his compliments. Informs USIO that according to War Office intelligence, 'the Germans continue to spread their propaganda in Ireland by every means in their power, through the medium of the German American - Irish elements in the U.S.A.'.
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