asked the President whether he will publish to the Dáil the correspondence between certain British Socialists and himself on the subject of giving asylum to Leon Trotsky in the Irish Free State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Asylum to Russian Citizen.
The correspondence on this matter consisted of a letter inquiring if it would be possible for the Government to give Mr. Trotsky permission to reside in the Saorstát and a reply from my office in the negative. It is not the custom to publish letters addressed to the President by individuals and I see no reason for doing so in this case.
Would the Vice-President have any objection in telling me from whom exactly the letter was received?
The letter was received from Mr. John McGovern, M.P. and was written on behalf of Mr. Maxton and himself.
Would it not be in the public interest, in view of the recent visit to this country of Messrs. Maxton and McGovern, to disclose what they found here which led them to the conclusion that this would be a congenial refuge for Mr. Trotsky?