That same night De Valera came to my Hotel and handed me a special, very personal, and confidential message for Joe McGarrity. He then made still some further verbal suggestions, regarding Clan business, all of which he asked me to pass on to Joe and Major Enright. Finally, I sailed for New York and after arrival, I found Peter Kearney in hospital with Dan Donovan telling me right away that some of the New York Clan na Gael members were causing a lot of trouble. Incidentally, Tom McGill did not return with me but decided to stay in Ireland. I felt he did the right thing by remaining and becoming active in Ireland but, unfortunately, this action gave our critics still more ammunition. The Clan Executive Council met and I submitted to them my complete and detailed report, including the fact that Tom had decided to stay on. All Council members agreed that it was much better for Tom not to return, they too felt he could do much better work in Ireland which, soon after, proved to be entirely correct. Then the New York members of all Clan na Gael Clubs came together at a special meeting at which I presented my report to them. Apparently, a certain lady from Kilkenny had become rather hysterical at a previous meeting and had charged the IRA with "selling out" and with handing over all their ammunition and arms to De Valera. Her charge was supported by some other members who, from the time on they had joined the Clan na Gael, had been trouble- makers and obstructionists of the worst kind. I repudiated the charge and stated that I regarded it [140] as a very base assertion, particularly, I pointed out, since there was not the slightest element of truth in it. My request for valid proof or confirmation of this accusation was conveniently pushed aside by both, this lady as well as her chief conspirator, a man from North Cork. The latter had a veritable obsession for nurturing personal hates and dislikes. and he used every opportunity to spread lies and to slander innocent people. The lady was court- martialled and expelled from the Clan na Gael. To give an example of their irresponsibility, some of these members demanded to know why a certain person (named) in Ireland had not been shot by the IRA. I pointed out that the aim and policy of our organisation was solely to advise and support but never to dictate. If we ever strayed from that path, I continued, and started to order drastic action against any person or persons in Ireland, then I would be determined to immediately resign from the Clan. I could not resist the golden opportunity of purposely antagonising this element still more by suggesting that they should go over and do the job themselves. I knew their records in Ireland and fighting the enemy had never been one of their virtues. Again the same man from North Cork took issue and brought up for discussion a matter which should never have been allowed. [ 14 The Chairman felt lost in the whole squabble and invited to explain in full. In my reply I told the Chairman that he should not have allowed a discussion on the matter and that no one knew this better than the member from North Cork. However, and since the point had been raised I now wished to say publicly that this man had never contributed to a single courageous action throughout all the years I had known him; that he had used the same destructive tactics in his area at home in Ireland; and that his brand of attacking had all been done then, as it was now, only by innuendo and implication but that it was never based on fact or proof. As my [141] parting shot I suggested that the next time the Clan had a similar risky assignment to be handled they ought to select the member from North Cork and send him over. There was no further interruption from that member. He left the meeting right away and the organisation soon after.] It is worth noting that this man, his few friends, as well as the lady from Kilkenny, who had made so much noise and caused such commotion all showed no hesitation to apply for pensions to the De Valera Government, which all of them received, although the allowances were insignificantly small. 1933 The Clan na Gael had difficulties in storing considerable amounts of arms equipment. Some of it had been moved successfully but a proportionally large consignment was still there and extreme care had to be taken on all sides so that it would not be discovered. Then one day, another member, also from North Cork came to see me. He said he had worked out a fool proof scheme for the transfer of that equipment, and he wanted to see it put into operation. I
14 These paragraphs are hatched out in the manuscript.
66
Powered by FlippingBook