Captain George Berkeley Descriptive List (Ref. PR12)

PR12/

Circular letter from E.S. Agnew, I.D.L, London Committee enclosing confidential letter and Resolutions at request of Lord Monteagle. Confidential letter (26 May 1920) from Lord Monteagle, Mount Trenchard, Foynes, Co. Limerick to London Committee enclosing resolutions for next meeting of the Executive Committee in Dublin. Requests comments by members. Resolutions (25 May 1920) concern question of relations between Ireland and Great Britain, financial autonomy and the constitution.

3pp

154 16 June 1920

Letter from E.S. Agnew, Old Hatch Farm, Abinger Hammer, near Dorking, England, to ‘Dear Mr. Berkeley’. Mentions a very successful meeting at Brighton, Berkeley’s ‘extraordinarily generous offer’, the winding up of The Irish Statesman, and money for the London office.

7pp

155 30 July 1920

Letter from Ewan S. Agnew, Hon, Sec. London Branch, I.D.L, to Berkeley. Quotes recent statements of Prime Minister about the situation in Ireland, ‘…an ultimatum preluding war…’. The wa r will be a war of extermination. Remarks concerning likelihood of negotiations with Sinn Fein. The ‘one remaining chance’ is for a Bill giving full Dominion Home Rule to the South of Ireland. Encourages members to mould public opinion. ‘It is a platitude to speak of “Ireland at the eleventh hour”. The twelfth hour is nearly upon us. Are we to be too late?’.

2pp

156 4 August 1920

Letter from E.S. Agnew, Hon. Sec. I.D.L, London Branch, 42 Terminus Chambers, 6 Holborn Viaduct, London, E.C. 1, to Berkeley. Thanks him for ‘another handsome contribution’. The funds will be preserved until October. Refers to Sir Horace Plunkett’s appeal to Irish business men. Agnew is afraid they will ‘refrain from putting their money into anything that depends…upon t he good faith of Westminster ’. Refers to Harrison’s work helping the move towards Dominionism, ‘If only we can raise the money now we may still be able to push it home…otherwise the outlook is black despair’. Refers to new Coercion Bill which is ‘grotesquely futile’.

2pp

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