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Volume 9 1948~1951

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No. 49 UCDA P35B/145

Memorandum by the Department of the Taoiseach concerning a meeting between the Taoiseach and members of the Irish Anti-Partition League on 24 April 1948

Dublin, 28 April 1948

  1. At 11.30 on Saturday, 24th April, 1948, the Taoiseach received a deputation from the Irish Anti-Partition League consisting of Mr. J. McSparran, K.C., M.P.,1 Senator J.G. Lennon2 and Mr. E. McAteer, M.P.3
  2. The delegation gave their views on the methods which could most usefully be adopted to secure the abolition of Partition. It was mentioned that the Northern Ireland Government maintained an Ulster Office in London which was financed from voted monies provided in the Northern Ireland Cabinet Office Estimate.
  3. The Taoiseach assured the delegation that the Government had, during the past two months, given consideration to the problem of Partition. He inquired about the composition and policy of the Anti-Partition League, and was informed that the League could claim to speak for over 90% of the Nationalists in the Six Counties. It was affiliated to no particular Party and had secured the support of all the Nationalist groups. Senator Lennon was a representative of the A.O.H. and the League was stated to have achieved a degree of unity amongst Nationalists that had never been realised before. All Nationalist M.P.'s, with the exception of Mr. Diamond,4 were stated to be supporting it.
  4. The deputation said that one of the main purposes of their visit was to inquire whether the Government would be prepared to provide the League with some financial assistance. During the past 2￿ years the League collected about £3,000, of which £1,400 remained at present. Little of these funds were collected in the Twenty-six Counties, and there was no local organisation there. The League maintains an Office with a part-time Secretary and a full-time Shorthand-Typist. Representatives are sent regularly to Great Britain where leaflets etc. are distributed. The League is not identified with any political party in the Twenty-six Counties and derives no funds from any of these Parties. It has been found necessary to give financial assistance to the various Clubs which have been established in Great Britain. There are 86 Clubs in England and 16 in Scotland, membership varies, but in a good Club, e.g. in Paisley, there are over 2,000 members. The funds collected locally in Great Britain are not sufficient to maintain the Clubs. The League did not wish to come under the control of any political Party in the Twenty-six Counties, but it was represented here by the Irish Anti-Partition Association, with headquarters in Frederick Street.
  5. The deputation said that there were some faults in the present organisation of the League in Great Britain. The usual political differences between Irish groups were apparent. At present it was considered that financial control should remain in the hands of the League in the Six Counties. It was considered preferable to employ part-time organisers in Britain for comparatively small fees, rather than full-time organisers. The smallest amount the League expected from the Government was about £600 a year to supplement the funds secured from other sources. The last Irish Government had promised to consider the possibility of providing a Fianna Fáil official to act as League Organiser in Britain, but nothing came of this. A salary of about £700, inclusive of expenses, had been mentioned. Mr. de Valera, was stated to have agreed to consider the provision of some financial assistance but he had not given any definite promise. Indeed, it had not been clear whether this financial assistance should come from voted monies or elsewhere.
  6. The deputation outlined its views on its British campaign. It did not intend to interfere directly in English politics, but the League felt that Irish people in Britain should not support a Labour Candidate who refused to support the League. It was necessary to build up a strong and reliable organisation in Britain consisting of persons who could be trusted to accept responsibility. Until that organisation was soundly established the League considered that by retaining control of its finances in the Six Counties it could best control its British organisation.
  7. The Taoiseach said he would consider very sympathetically the views of the delegation and would communicate with them in due course. The question of establishing an Anti-Partition Information Bureau in Dublin was mentioned but was not discussed at any length.
  8. The deputation withdrew at 12.45 p.m.

1 James McSparran (1892-1970), Irish nationalist politician and barrister. M.P. for Mourne (1945-58).

2 James Gerrard 'Gerry' Lennon (1907-76), solicitor and Irish nationalist politician. Northern Ireland Senator (1944-7).

3 Eddie McAteer (1914-86), Irish nationalist politician. M.P. for Mid-Londonderry (1945-53) and for Foyle (1953-69).

4 Harry Diamond (1908-96), socialist and Irish nationalist politician. M.P. for Belfast Falls (1940-64).

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