Diarmaid L. Fawsitt Archive Section 1 Desc. List.

Descriptive List of the Personal Archive of Diarmaid L. Fawsitt

PR81/1/3 Anglo-Irish Treaty, Ulster Special Mission and Civil War (1921-1929)

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/11 Date: (7 January 1922) Title:

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/15 Date: (8 February 1922) Title:

MS. Letter from James K. McGuire, 321 West 106th Street, New York, to J.L. Fawsitt (Diarmaid Fawsitt)

MS. Letter from James K. McGuire, The Raleigh Hotel, Washington D.C., to Diarmaid Fawsitt

Level:

Extent: 2 pages

Level:

Extent: 6 pages

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Scope and Content: Letter recording McGuire’s reaction to the news of the vote in Dail Eireann in favour of the treaty, 64 to 57 votes, ‘all friends of Ireland, Disgusted, all factions’. In a solidly negative tone McGuire reports the American view that men came to the US and used the ‘Irish Republic’ to extort money. He states such men are known as ‘ “a pack of bunco steerers and con men and women” ‘. Opinion towards Fawsitt is also negative: ‘your job as Consul of the Irish Republic is regarded as a fake and you could not appear here honorably’. McGuire also requests that Fawsitt do his best to get money back for Americans who had invested in the republic. Original letter is dated 1921, however, has been dated to 1922 in respect of its content.

Scope and Content: Letter commenting that McGuire has received a number of important letters from Ireland including from Michael Collins and Harry Boland. States that in his letter Collins ‘spoke most affectionately’ of Eamon de Valera. Requests if Dail Eireann treaty debates have been printed as he wishes to obtain copies of same. Fears he cannot come to Ireland to discuss taxes as times are ‘not prosperous’ for metal manufactures, shipping, and insurance in the U.S. Suggests to Fawsitt that it would be beneficial for Ireland to use American banks, and this will ‘serve as a warning to England that Ireland does not depend on “Irish-English” banks’. Original letter is dated 8 February 1921.

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/16 Date: 20 February 1922 Title:

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/12 Date: 18 January 1922 Title:

TS. Letter from James K. McGuire, The Raleigh Hotel, Washington D.C., to J.L. Fawsitt (Diarmaid Fawsitt), St Pedroc’s (St Petroc), Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, and United States Shipping Board ship sales poster

Newspaper cutting, The Freeman, New York, reports on the Dail Eireann vote in favour of establishing the Irish Free State

Level:

Extent: 1 sheet

Level:

Extent: 4 pages

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Scope and Content: Newspaper report on the recent vote in Dail Eireann to approve the establishment of the Irish Free State. The writer remarks this was achieved ‘by a small and grudging majority’.

Scope and Content: Letter enclosing poster or advertisement issued by the United States Shipping Board for sale of particular vessels.

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/13 Date: 30 January 1922 Title:

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/17 Date: 20 February 1922 Title:

TS. Copy letter from Diarmaid Fawsitt, St Petroc, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, to Hon. James K.McGuire, 321 West 106th Street, New York City

TS. Letter from James K. McGuire, The Raleigh Hotel, Washington D.C., to J.L. Fawsitt (Diarmaid Fawsitt)

Level:

Extent: 1 page

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Extent: 2 pages

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Scope and Content: Letter written in response to McGuire’s letter of 7 January. Fawsitt reassures McGuire ‘the Free State government will honour...bond holders’. Musing on his service in the government Fawsitt comments that he wishes to serve his country and prefers to stay in Ireland than serve abroad.

Scope and Content: Letter commenting on the factions in the Irish-American groups in the United States. McGuire believes that John Devoy and Judge Cohallan are in favour of the Free State ‘as the best means of getting rid of President De Valera’. The A.A.R.I.R. is divided on the matter of the treaty however the president Mr Doheny is in favour of the free state. States that Judge Goof and Father Powers are ‘with De Valera’.

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/14 Date: 2 February 1922 Title:

Reference: PR81/1/3/I/01/18 Date: 26 February 1922 Title:

TS. Pamphlet on United States trade tariffs and duties by James K. McGuire

Level:

Extent: 4 pages (2 copies)

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MS. Letter from James K. McGuire, 321 West 106th Street, New York to J.L.F. (Diarmaid Fawsitt)

Scope and Content: Printed pamphlet titled ‘American Valuation. From Address of James K McGuire, Washington D.C.’ The contents relate to U.S. duties and the US tariff act currently in the U.S. senate.

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Extent: 2 pages

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Scope and Content: Letter with an update on opinions in the U.S. to the Anglo-Irish treaty. States the Catholic papers ‘show toleration’ for ‘trying out the Free State’. Advises he has heard John Devoy is accusing Eamon de Valera of withdrawing $200,000’ from local banks ‘to further his campaign’. On a personal level he reports his son James is ill, and that ‘along the Atlantic Seaboard the epidemic of the grippe and influenza is considerable’.

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