Photograph of the War Office document appointing Lieutenant General Sir John Maxwell, KCB, Commander-in Chief of British Forces in Ireland [taking over command from Major General Friend].

Notes.

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.

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.

Drafts of a statement by General Maxwell to the Associated Press, describing the actions of the rebels during Easter Sunday in the worst possible light and the reactions of the military (handwritten, 6 p., and typescript, 3 p.).

Handwritten and typescript copy 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. Dublin notes 'We hope to deter by these examples & make the intriguers realise that we will not tolerate murder of loyal subjects, or any acts against the safety of the Realm'. Includes typescript report concerning the current situation with regard to 'Sinn Fein Rebels' in Dublin city 'Arrangements are being made to intern in England all Sein Feiners captured or surrendered who are not dealt with here. Also notes that 'Roger Casement has declared that Germany has sent all assistance she is going to send and this is now at the bottom of the sea'.

Handwritten paraphrase copies of cipher messages from Maxwell to Kitchener, War Office, London marked 'Secret' concerning the North King Street massacre. Includes Kitchener's cipher 16970 questioning the reports of what occurred and outlining the scenario he considers more likely. Maxwell agrees but has 'sworn affidavits to deal with for the most part from women who have made them under the influence of solicitors and other people. In King Street the fighting was from house to house and exceptionally fierce the streets being barricaded.' Includes message from Maxwell to Asquith reporting that members of the press were shown the conditions in Richmond Barracks.

Copy of typescript initial report by General Maxwell to [former Secretary of State for War] Lord Kitchener, on the current military action following the surrender of the rebels. Blames the Irish Executive for 'not dealing effectively with the Sinn Fein rebellion before it came to a head'; reports on the rounding up and deportation of Sinn Féin and Irish Citizen Army members and suggests that they could 'expiate their crime by serving the Empire as soldiers…They can fight but are happily not very good shots'; refers to the courts martial and a way of dealing with the bitter feelings between the north and the south of the country.

Telegram to Maxwell from French, GHQ Home Forces, Horse Guards 'Your private letter of 1st May received. The points raised will be attended to immediately and you will be informed'.

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'.

Secret communications between General Maxwell, Major General Friend, the War Office and General Headquarters, Home Forces, concerning Major General Friend's presence in England on leave of absence and the attendance by certain Officers of the Irish Command at a race meeting in Baldoyle, on the day on which 'disturbances in Dublin commenced'. Item 1: copy of a typescript report from Friend to Maxwell regarding a communication from the War Office--No.79/Irish/195 (A.G.3) dated 28 April 1916. He states: 'I naturally regret extremely that I was absent from Dublin at such a serious crisis, but when it is considered that His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, his family and suite had made all arrangements to leave for Belfast for several weeks, at 3 p.m. on 24th April, it may be imagined that those in the highest civil authority in Ireland were also ignorant of the intentions of the rebels'. Item 2: copy of a typescript letter from Maxwell to Lord French defending Friend and enclosing a copy of the above. Item 3: copy of a typescript War Office report (W.O. File 79/6639): Irish-German-American Conspiracy. Includes comment on arms traffic, seditious publications, connections to Germany, censorship of US Mail and the present situation in Ireland. Includes handwritten annotation in an unknown hand: 'This is a British Report'.

Copy of secret report from Registry file by Maxwell for French on the 'Sinn Fein Rebellion' and the 'present state of S.F. movement'. States 'Had the enterprise of Sir R[oger] Casement succeeded the whole of the West of Ireland including Cork would have risen and I deliberately think that we have narrowly missed a most serious rebellion. Had any initial success been achieved it would have spread all over Ireland (except Ulster) and no influence of Mr. Redmond or others could have prevented this…I think I can, however, assert that recent events have proved to the extremists that rebellion without ample arms and organization cannot succeed, and that they have no chance of success against trained soldiers'.

Typescript copy of despatch from General Maxwell to Maurice Bonham Carter, Vice Regal Lodge, Dublin, on extending the time for the operation of martial law, proclaiming Sinn Féin and the Citizen Army illegal, and the question of Coroner's Inquests and the King's Street cases. Includes typescript copy of the opinions of [James H. Campbell] the Attorney General [Ireland] on the matter.

Typescript copy of 'Rough Preliminary Draft' of a 'Proclamation under Martial Law' (2 p.). Includes covering letter from General Maxwell to Lord French explaining 'the object of the enclosed is to enable the National Volunteers (Redmondites) and Ulster Volunteers (Carsonites) to be recognised as part of the Forces of the Crown' (1 p.).