The Minister made reference to previous Pensions Bills and indicated the period to which they referred. The previous Pensions Bills referred, in addition, to 1916—the Rising period. The Minister has said very little with regard to the persons for whom this Bill is intended. I think something requires to be said on that. The Government Press of the 19th October dealt with the matter. In a sub-leader headed "A People's Tribute," they said:
The Pensions Bill, the text of which was made available for the public yesterday, will come as a boon to many patriotic homes throughout Ireland—homes that have given both breadwinners and sons and daughters to the struggle for independence. But the importance of the Bill is not this so much as the principle which it establishes. It records the decision of the Irish people that those who have striven in arms for liberty not only from 1916 to 1921, but in the subsequent defence of the Republic are truly our great citizens. It records, too, that it was not a part or a province of Ireland which was battling for national Government in that whole period, but the Irish nation. In other countries those who have fallen for freedom were held up to their own generation and are held up to the generations which followed as ideal types of men and women. In America families whose forebears were associated with the ridding of that great Continent of British domination are to-day, for that reason, held in particular respect. That is true of other nations such as Belgium and the countries of South America. In this country, our soldiers of freedom have often gone without recognition not only in their own day, but by succeeding generations. A few who are in the public eye are known, the many are nameless and forgotten. The Pensions Bill, published yesterday, seeks to end an ingratitude of which the nation has been up to now guilty. Many refused to avail themselves of similar acts of the late Government on the grounds that it was not being faithful to the ideal for which the lives had been given and the wounds proudly borne. All those can feel to-day that it is a people's tribute and not a tribute of any party or section that they are being asked to accept for the noble service with which their names will always be associated.
That is an addendum from the Government Press to the Minister's speech in introducing this Bill. The Bill proposes to give pensions greater by approximately one-half to those who, the Minister says, fought on the Republican side during the civil war, than were given by this House to the rank and file of those who, in the Army, fought for the preservation of the national institutions. In my opinion, the Bill requires to be somewhat documented in order to correlate its terms, the persons to whom it is to be applied and this House, as the Parliament of the nation.
The Treaty between this country and Great Britain was approved on the 7th January, 1922. The Provisional Government was formally established on the 14th January. The British authorities formally handed over the reins of Government to the Irish Provisional Government on the 16th January. On the 16th June there was a General Election for the purpose of setting up the Provisional Parliament. At that election, 128 members were elected to fill that Parliament and, of these, 36 were persons who repudiated the institution that was being set up and actually absented themselves from the work; 36 out of 128 represents a percentage of 28. In the meantime formal military operations were undertaken by the assault on the Four Courts on 27th June, and by the subsequent fighting in O'Connell Street, ending on the 3rd July, in which 52 persons were killed and 190 wounded. The head of the Provisional Government, General Collins, was killed on 22nd August, and Parliament opened on the 9th September. Three months after formal military operations had been undertaken—namely, 27th September—the Parliament was asked to give the military authorities power to set up military courts in respect of certain offences relating to arms and power to execute the sentence of death. In the meantime—on the 16th September, 1922—a body met calling itself the Irish Republican Army Executive, which then consisted of 16 members, including Messrs. Tom Derrig, Seamus Robinson, Seán Moylan, Michael Kilroy, P.J. Ruttledge and Frank Aiken. At that meeting on the 16th September, 1922, an Army Council was set up, consisting of 5 members and including Mr. Tom Derrig and Mr. Frank Aiken. On the 26th October the following official communique, as it was called, was issued. It is headed Dáil Eireann, Official Communique (English translation):
Dáil Eireann, the Parliament and Government of the Republic, met yesterday in secret session, the former Deputy Speaker presiding. A Clerk of the House was appointed and the following resolution passed:—(1) Whereas the Speaker (Ceann Comhairle) and the other appointed Executive Officers, in disregard of their duties and in open disobedience to the mandamus of the Supreme Court have refused to summon Dáil Eireann, the duly elected Parliament and Government of the Republic. And whereas, notwithstanding their oaths and public pledges to maintain the Republic, these officers abetted by other members of Dáil Eireann have in this and diverse other ways endeavoured illegally and unconstitutionally to subvert the Republic and its Government, Dáil Eireann, and with foreign aid have joined in traitorous conspiracy and armed revolt with that intent, pretending to establish a so-called Free State and a Provisional (Partition) Parliament, the creatures and sub-ordinates of an alien legislature and purposing thus to destroy the independent sovereignty of the nation and the integrity of its ancient territory. Therefore, we the faithful Deputies of Dáil Eireann assemble to maintain the Republic and to secure the continuity of independent Government for the whole of Ireland in the name of all loyal citizens of the Republic and by the express wish of the soldiers fighting in its defence call upon the former President, Eamon de Valera, to resume the Presidency and to nominate a Council of State and Executive Ministers to assist him in carrying on the Government until such time as the Parliament of the Republic is allowed freely to assemble or the people are allowed by a free election to decide how they shall be governed.
(2) That Eamon de Valera be hereby appointed President of the Republic and Chief Executive of the State.
(3) That the following nominated by the President be hereby appointed a Council of the State:—
The President, Austin Stack, T.D.; Robert Barton, T.D.; Count Plunkett, T.D.; J.J. O'Kelly, T.D.; L. Ginnell, T.D.; Seán T. O'Kelly, T.D.; Seán O'Mahony, T.D.; Mrs. O'Callaghan, T.D.; Mary MacSwiney, T.D.; P.J. Ruttledge, T.D.; Seán Moylan, T.D.; M. P. Colivet, T.D.
(4) That pending the next meeting of the Dáil we hereby empower the Council of State to sanction such Ministers and Executive Officers of State as the President may nominate and may have the Council's approval.
Dublin, 26th October, 1922.
The Press at the time contained the information that on 31st October, long before any executions were carried out, the Irregular Acting Assistant Chief of Staff writing to the Command Adjutant proposed for Mr. de Valera's decision "The issuing of a proclamation declaring the Provisional Government illegal and that after a certain date anyone attending their Parliament was liable to suffer a traitor's fate."
Dated the 3rd November, 1922, the following proclamation was issued:
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.
PROCLAMATION.
(Translation in English).
Whereas an unconstitutional and usurping Junta, set up at the dictation of the British Government and calling itself the "Provisional Government of Ireland," is and has been pledging the credit of the nation without the sanction of Dáil Eireann, the Parliament and Government of the Republic, and contracting debts and liabilities in various ways, including the purchase of military supplies and war material, and is further seeking to create vested interests by filling vacant offices and making appointments to new offices;
And whereas the so-called Provisional Government has been proclaimed an illegal body by the Government of the Republic;
Therefore, it is hereby proclaimed and notified to all whom it may concern that all such debts contracted or to be contracted, and appointments made, or to be made, by the said Provisional Government without the sanction of Dáil Eireann, the Parliament and Government of the Republic, are, and shall be illegal, null and void, and will not be recognised by the State.
(Signed) Aibhistin de Staic,
Minister for Finance.
Eamon de Valera,
President.
On 13th November, 1922, Eamon de Valera, as President, addressed the following letter to each member of the Army Council and to the O.C. Northern Command:—
A Chara,
I have nominated the following Cabinet: Finance, Austin Stack; Home Affairs, P.J. Ruttledge; Defence, Liam Mellows; Local Government, S.T. O'Kelly (Donal O'Callaghan to be substitute Minister); Economic Affairs, Robert Barton (Seán Moylan to be substitute Minister, with M.P. Colivet in reserve).
In regard to Defence, the Chief of Staff agrees that for the present the best plan would be that his name and mine should appear on any official document relating to the Department of Defence. The President can look after Foreign Affairs.
Had Mr. Childers not been arrested it was my intention that he should be Secretary of the Cabinet and Director of Publicity. I should like that he be regarded as nominally filling these positions. Substitutes can be selected by the Cabinet.
In order that there may be as little delay as possible in fully establishing the Government, I would like, unless there are very serious objections, to have your formal approval of the nominations immediately.
Mise,
Eamon de Valera,
President.
The following Proclamation was issued, dated 17th November, 1922:—
DÁIL EIREANN.
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.
PROCLAMATION.
(English translation.)
Whereas in consequence of representations made by the British Government to the Government of the Republic of Ireland in the course of the war waged by the British Government against the Republic, a truce was, on the 11th day of July, 1921, arranged between the Irish Republican Army and the Army of His Britannic Majesty, and thereupon negotiations for a Treaty between Ireland and Great Britain were entered into, and delegates appointed by the Government of the Republic of Ireland went into conference with representatives of the British Government, and an instrument entitled "Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland" was signed in London on the 6th day of December, 1921;
And whereas on the 7th day of January, 1922, Dáil Eireann, under the influence of duress and the threat of renewed war by Great Britain, passed a resolution purporting to approve of said instrument;
And whereas the said instrument implied a surrender of the sovereignty of Ireland and could not be, and is not, binding on the Republic of Ireland; and could not be, and was not ratified or approved in the form of law by Dáil Eireann, the Government of the Republic;
And whereas any such purported approval was ultra vires, and accordingly null and void and of no effect;
And whereas in the month of June, 1922, certain persons in Ireland known as the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland, purporting to derive their authority under the said instrument, and at the instance of and coerced by the Government of Great Britain, rose in rebellion against the Republic;
And whereas the Government of Great Britain furnished and has since continued to furnish these rebels and their adherents with arms, equipment, and expert military aid;
And whereas it is expedient and necessary for the safety of the Republic and the independence of Ireland, that the said Articles of Agreement, which were never binding on the Republic, or on the people of Ireland, should be formally repudiated;
It is hereby decreed and declared that the resolution passed by Dáil Eireann on the 7th day of January, 1922, purporting to approve of the instrument entitled "Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland," dated the 6th day of December, 1921, be, and the same is hereby rescinded and revoked, and that any Act, matter or thing purporting to be done thereunder is void and of no effect;
And it is hereby further decreed that the persons known as, and styling themselves the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland, and their adherents, are, and shall be deemed always to have been, an illegal body, and that each and every such person is guilty of rebellion against the Republic;
Signed on behalf of and with the authority of the Government of the Republic,
Pádraig O Ruithleis,
Minister for Home Affairs.
Eamon de Valera, President.
7th November, 1922.
On the following day the following additional Proclamation was issued:—
DAIL EIREANN.
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.
PROCLAMATION.
(English Translation).
Whereas by decree of Dail Eireann, No. 5, First Session, A.D. 1920, Courts of Justice and Equity were established, and by the same decree the Ministry were empowered to establish Courts having criminal jurisdiction;
And whereas by decree dated the 19th day of September, 1920, a Land Settlement Commission was established;
And whereas certain persons calling themselves a Provisional Government have entered into a conspiracy with other enemies of the Republic to divide this ancient nation and dismember its territory and to subvert the Republic which they were sworn to defend, and in furtherance of such conspiracy have made an alliance with the British Government and with arms, munitions of war, and money supplied by their British Allies have fomented a rebellion against the Republic;
And whereas in the course of said rebellion the so-called Provisional Government and their associates are endeavoring to re-establish in this country the old British Courts owing allegiance to the King of Great Britain;
And whereas they now purport to set up in twenty-six counties of Ireland a system of District Courts acting under the authority of the King of Great Britain, and intended to supersede the Courts of the Republic;
And whereas these British Courts, whether in their old form or their new disguise, are an illegal usurpation of authority, an infringement of the sovereign independence of the Irish people, and a danger to the Republic;
It is decreed by the Government of the Republic that all British Courts purporting to exercise jurisdiction within the territory of the Republic, whether known by the name of the King's Courts or District Courts, be, and the same are hereby suppressed;
And it is decreed that any person purporting to exercise jurisdiction in a Court hereby suppressed, or instituting, defending, or appearing in any action or proceeding in such a Court without licence from the Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic, or otherwise encouraging, aiding or abetting the exercise of jurisdiction by any of the Courts hereby suppressed shall be deemed to be an enemy of the Republic;
And it is further decreed that no judgment, decree or order of any of the Courts hereby suppressed shall have force or effect in Ireland unless such judgment, decree or order is first submitted and approved by a proper officer of the Republic.
Padraig O Ruithleis,
Minister for Home Affairs;
Eamon de Valera,
President.
Dated this 18th day of November, 1922.
Five days afterwards, on 23rd November, 1922, the Chief of Staff who, in accordance with Eamon de Valera's letter of 13th November, 1922, to each member of the Army Council, was dealing jointly with Mr. de Valera in matters of defence, issued the following order to O.C.s of all Battalions:—
To O.C.s all Battalions.
(1) Since the formation of the Republican Government proclamations have been and will be issued from time to time as occasion requires it. It is the duty of the Army to see that these are enforced in every area.
(2) Attached are persons affected by proclamations dated 17th and 18th November, 1922. On and after 1st December, 1922, you will effectively enforce these proclamations in your area. Having fully acquainted yourselves of the situation with reference to these proclamations in your Battalion area, you will issue detailed instructions to the Company O.C., this to ensure general control and united action.
(3) The death penalty will not be inflicted to enforce these proclamations except in cases where permission has already been given by G.H.Q. orders.
(4) Report on difficulty, if any, in enforcing whole or part of these proclamations.
That order was issued by the Chief of Staff on 23rd November, 1922, five days after the previous proclamation. This is the list of persons who, according to that order, were affected:—
The following persons or classes of persons are affected by proclamation dated 17/11/22, proclaiming the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland an illegal body and they in their adherence rebels against the Republic.
(1) All members of the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland.
(2) All members (T.D.s) who are supporting the said Government.
(3) All members of the Free State Army.
(4) The Civic Guard.
(5) The C.I.D.
(6) All officials of the said Provisional Government or any of its Departments.
(7) All persons whether paid or unpaid who are actively assisting or co-operating with the Provisional Government either directly or indirectly.
The following persons or classes of persons are affected by proclamation dated 18/11/22, suppressing enemy courts:—
(1) All enemy Court Judges (High Court and County Court) who are presently acting.
(2) All District Justices appointed by the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland.
(3) Any other persons who purport to exercise jurisdiction under the authority of the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland.
(4) The Civic Guard.
(5) All officials of these enemy Courts, including Registrars, Clerks, Court Messengers, Process Servers and Summons Servers.
(6) All persons who recognise said Courts or institute, defend or appear in suits or actions before said Courts unless they have obtained a permit from the Minister for Home Affairs, Irish Republican Government.
(7) Solicitors who institute or defend proceedings recognising the authority or jurisdiction of such Courts without a permit from the Minister for Home Affairs, Irish Republican Government.
(8) Counsel, barristers and solicitors who appear in suits or actions before said Courts where permits have not been already obtained in such Courts or actions from the Minister for Home Affairs, Irish Republican Government.
(9) Any other person or persons who assist, co-operate with or recognise such enemy Courts without a permit from the Minister for Home Affairs, Irish Republican Government.
All these persons are affected by the proclamations of 17th and 18th November, 1922. The "War News, Poblacht na hEireann," No. 101, was issued on 25th November, 1922, and in it is printed a list of The Murder Members. This is what it contains:—
In view of the secret slaughter on Friday week last of four young Republican soldiers and yesterday of Staff-Captain Childers, I.R.A., after their so-called "trials" by the Secret Murder Courts set up by Richard Mulcahy with the approval of the Kildare Street Partition Parliament we now remind the public of the names of the men who voted in favour of "President" Cosgrave's motion approving the principle of the setting up of these "Courts." The names in their own official Parliamentary Report of 27th September are as follow:—
W.T. Cosgrave, Walter Cole, John Dineen, Sean Hayes, J.J. Walsh, P.J. Ward, Desmond Fitzgerald, Michael Derham, Richard Mulcahy, Michael Staines, Daniel McCarthy, E. Alton, Gerald Fitzgibbon, Eoin MacNeill, Padraig O Maille, George Nicholls, Dr. James Crowley, Richard Wilson, James N. Dolan, William Hayes, Sean McEoin, James Murphy, Ernest Blythe, Dr. J. Byrne, D. Vaughan, F. Bulfin, William Sears, Dr. M. Hayes, D.J. Gorey, Sean Milroy, Michael Hennessy, Liam de Roiste, Patrick McGoldrick, Darrel Figgis, John Rooney, Sean McGarry, Philip Cosgrave, Joseph McGrath, Dr. Myles Keogh, Sir James Craig, W. Thrift, Prof. W. Magennis, Joseph Whelahan, Pierce Beasley, Christopher Byrne, Kevin O'Higgins, Frank McGuinness, Eamon Duggan, Peter Hughes, Thomas O'Donnell, Dr. V. White, James Burke, Michael Doyle, T. Carter, Andrew Lavin, Alec McCabe.
The copy I hold in my hand is a copy sent to Deputy J.J. Walsh with his name marked on it as No. 1. Underlined are the following words: "But history will not be slow in this case, and the awakening will come very rapidly. Let there be no doubt about it ... England's bidding. ... No person who is in any way responsible for this act must be allowed to evade responsibility. Renegade soldiers. ... And there is only one means by which the Nation can cleanse itself—the casting out and just punishment of these and all other Irishmen who make their country a by-word through a cowardly subservience to the English enemy."
On 30th November, 1922, a further instruction was sent to the O.C.s all Battalions by the Chief of Staff who, under Mr. de Valera's letter of 13th November, was co-operating with him in all defence matters. It is headed "Enemy Murder Bill."
To O.C.s all Battalions:—
(1) All members of "Provisional Parliament" who were present and voted for Murder Bill will be shot at sight. Attached find list of names.
(2) Houses of members of Murder Bill, Murder Gang and active supporters of the P.G.—
that is, the Provisional Government
—who are known to support the Murder Bill decision will be destroyed.
(3) All Free State Army Officers who approve of Murder Bill and are aggressive and active against our forces will be shot at sight, also all ex-British Army Officers and men who joined the Free State Army since 6th December, 1921.
(4) Individual action on paragraphs 2-3 will be ordered by the Brigade O.C.
(5) To be duplicated and transmitted to the O.C. all Units.
That was an order from the Chief of Staff and there was a footnote on it which said: "On day of first execution an order to shoot at sight members of the Provisional Government was issued in Dublin, 1-2 Brigades, since an opportunity was not got to put same into effect."
A list of members of the Provisional Parliament who voted for the "Murder Bill" was attached to this instruction and they were ordered to be shot at sight. The list is as follows:—
W.T. Cosgrave, Walter Cole, John Dineen, Sean Hayes, J.J. Walsh, P. J. Ward, Desmond Fitzgerald, Séumas Derham, Richard Mulcahy, Michael Staines, Daniel McCarthy, E. Alton, Gerald FitzGibbon, Eoin McNeill, Pádraig O Maille, George Nicholls, James Crowley, Richard Wilson, James N. Dolan, William Hayes, Seán McKeon, James Murphy, Ernest Blythe, S.R.J. Byrne, D. Vaughan, T. Carter, Andrew Lavin, Alec McCabe, F. Bulfin, William Sears, Richard Hayes (Doctor), D.J. Gorey, Seán Milroy, Michael Hennessy, Liam de Roiste, Patrick McGolderick, Darrell Figgis, John Rooney, Seán McGarry, Philip Cosgrave, Joseph McGrath, Dr. Myles Keogh, Sir James Craig, W. Thrift, Prof. W. Magennis, Joseph Whelehan, Piaras Beasley, Christopher Byrne, Kevin O'Higgins, Frank McGennis, Eamon Duggan, Peter Hughes, Thomas O'Donnell, Doctor V. White, James Bourke, Michael Doyle.
All these were the persons who under Section 1 of the instructions were to be shot at sight. There was a further modification or addition to the order by instructions to this effect:—
Six residences will be destroyed for each volunteer executed; four Imperial element, the D.L. type, and two of aggressive Free State supporters. Houses to be selected by the Brigade O.C.; owners are to be verbally informed of reasons for destruction.
Government proclamations: Orders issued by Chief of Staff as regards action to be taken against personnel affected by these proclamations are altered to the following extent:—
The following will be shot at sight:—
(a) All members who voted for enemy Murder Bill.
(b) Officers of all ranks.
(c) Members of Seanad in List A.
(d) Members of Murder Gang.
(e) Official—civilians who order prisoners to be fired on.
(f) Those who tortured Republican prisoners.
(g) Those who fire on prisoners.
(h) Enemy legal advisers connected with Courtsmartial.
(i) Members of "Firing Parties" who execute our prisoners.
(j) High Court, County and District Judges and State Solicitors.
(k) Officials employed at Head-quarters of Ministries.
(l) Aggressive Free State supporters.
(m) Members of C.I.D.
(n) Proprietors, directors, editors, sub-editors and leader writers of hostile Press in Ireland in cases where these are known to be hostile.
The residences and, where mentioned, the offices of the following shall be destroyed:—(N.B.—Factories are not to be interfered with):—
(1) Houses of persons mentioned in (a), (b), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), and the offices of (k), (l), (m), (n).
(2) Residences of all Senators.
(3) Imperialists (ex-D.L. type).
(4) Officials connected with Enemy Government administration not provided for heretofore.
(5) Counsellors, barristers, solicitors, etc., who appear in suits or actions before Enemy Court without a permit from Ministry of Home Affairs, Irish Republican Government.
The property to be burned must be the property of the persons named.
On the 4th December in another issue of the "Poblacht na hEireann War News," No. 107, there is a letter signed Eamon de Valera, in which the "Manchester Guardian," Manchester, England, is told that "the Irish electorate did not decide for the Free State last December." There are in that issue two letters or warnings issued. One is to the Speaker of this House and the other is to the Chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Labour Party.
The "Speaker" and Labour.
A warning from the I.R.A. Chief of Staff.
The letters given below which have been sent from the General Headquarters of the Irish Republican Army speak for themselves.
To: Mr. Johnson, Chairman Irish Parliamentary Labour Party.
Sir,
I am sending you herewith copy of letter I have sent to the Speaker of the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland.
You as spokesman have given the approval of your Party to the present policy of the so-called Provisional Government. We are satisfied that your attitude does not reflect the overwhelming opinion of Labour in this country. You must know, however, that your action gave sanction to the executions and to the continuance of the "mad dog" policy. We would therefore impress upon you the necessity for realising your responsibility in this matter. The continued participation of your Party in the proceedings of this Illegal Parliament can only be construed by us as intentional co-operation with enemy forces in the murder of our soldiers, a great proportion of whom are drawn from the ranks of Labour.
Chief of Staff (for Army Council).
The second letter is:
To "the Speaker" of the Provisional Parliament of Southern Ireland.
Sir,
The illegal body over which you preside has declared war on the soldiers of the Republic and suppressed the legitimate Parliament of the Irish nation.
As your Parliament and Army headquarters well know, we on our side have, at all times, adhered to the recognised rules of warfare. In the early days of this war we took hundreds of your forces prisoners, but accorded to them all the rights of Prisoners of War and over and above treated them as fellow-countrymen and former comrades. Many of your soldiers have been released by us three times, although captured with arms on each occasion. But the prisoners you have taken you have treated barbarously and when helpless have tortured, wounded, and murdered them. We have definite proof that many of your senior officers, including members of your Parliament, have been guilty of most brutal crimes towards the I.R.A. prisoners and have reduced your soldiers to a state of savagery in some areas.
Finally you are now pretending to try I.R.A. prisoners before your make-belief Courts. You have already done to death five after such mock ceremonials. You now presume to murder and transport the soldiers who have brought Ireland's victory when you, traitors, surrendered the Republic twelve months ago.
Next to the members of your "Provisional Government" every member of your Body who voted for this resolution by which you pretend to make legal the murder of soldiers is equally guilty. We, therefore, give you and each member of your Body due notice that unless your Army recognises the rules of warfare in the future we shall adopt very drastic measures to protect our forces. (Signed)
Chief of Staff (for Army Council.)
That letter was directed to the Chairman of this Parliament, which at that time consisted of 128 members, of which 36 persons who had been elected by the people did not recognise it. The remaining 92 were dealing with the business here.
On the 9th December a further issue of the "War News," No. 111, reported the assassination of Seán Hales and the attempted assassination of An Leas-Cheann Comhairle of this Assembly. It read:—
SEAN HALES.
On Thursday, December 7th, Seán Hales, Commandant in the Free State Army and member of the Free State "Parliament," was shot dead in the streets of Dublin. At the same time, Padraig O Maille, another member, was wounded. Commandant Hales fought bravely against the British Empire during the first War of Independence as an Officer of the Irish Republican Army. He survived that war to meet his death in the cause of the British Empire, a cause which is not worth the sacrifice of one Irishman's life. For this cause Seán Hales voted away his country's independence, on the 7th January last, later consummating his treacherous act by deserting his old comrades in arms to join the British arms and equipped levies of the so-called Free State. He was a high officer in this Army when in July last, on the orders of England, it shattered the last chances of national unity by attacking the forces of the Republic and plunging the country into the cruellest of civil wars. Since June, Seán Hales continued to fight against these forces which included his own brother, Commandant Thomas Hales, now in a Free State prison, while day by day the Free State military authorities were piling up a record for savagery and tyranny unequalled in any country in the world. Two fellow members of Hales (Harry Boland and James Devins), who with him had been elected in May to a National Coalition Parliament with a mandate for peace, have been murdered in cold blood, 30 other members of the same Parliament are either imprisoned or being hunted down, defamed, maligned, persecuted; prisoners were being tortured or shot out of hand. Continuing as a member of the Provisional Parliament which had usurped this National Coalition, Seán Hales, on September 27th, participated in the most appalling crime by voting for the setting up of murder courts, which have already done to death secretly eight Irishmen, one of them a member of the Dáil which Hales dishonoured. The men who are engaged in carrying out this diabolical work for England have been solemnly warned that they cannot do these things with impunity. The vengeance of an outraged people is at hand. We again warn them and appeal to them—for England is not worth it—and they are merely devising their own traitorous and shameful doom.
The record of P.O Maille is in nearly every respect the same as that of Seán Hales.
A letterpress refers to this action of the shooting of Seán Hales as a just extermination of one of their own treacherous band. In a further issue of "Poblacht na hEireann, War News," 122, issued on 28th December, the following Christmas greeting is issued:— The President's Christmas message——