Letter from E.D. to Hagan

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Pontifical Irish College

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E.D.

Hagan, John, 1873-1930

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Carbon copy of handwritten letter with corrections by hand from 'E.D.', A.N.I. to Liverpool, to Hagan (corrected from 'Dear Sir'), in reply to a letter concerning the involvement of the Pope ('P. Max') 'in our affairs�. Informing him of the recruitment and the make-up of the auxiliaries, the Black and Tans, and the U.V. Specials in the north; the ordinary military and the R.I.C. stand apart, are 'disgusted' with them if not in places actually rowing with them'. Giving an impression of the terror inflicted by the raids: 'no one knows who may be visited or when a [�] of the family may be dragged out of his bed (and) shot or maltreated'; in Ulster raids are combined with robbery. Recounting one incident where two gunmen took shots at people outside the church � 'lorry-loads passed through the town at night singing "Dolly's Brae"�'. Only the spirit of faith gives people strength; commenting that under these circumstances it is no wonder people are taking the law into their own hands. 'Except in [these] parts of Carsonia where Catholics are few the dread of nocturnal visits is constant with the resultant loss of nerves'. The Pope may grasp the situation if comparing to the German atrocities in Belgium, and when confronted with the fact that these are far from disciplined forces at work; whatever his actions he must stand disassociate from those 'whose treatment of the country has brought about the existing terrorism (and) frightfulness'. He does not place much weight on the action of the recent visitor to San Clemente; the view from up above must have caused a fit of hysteria. Will try to send copy of the forthcoming pronouncement from [G�] before quinquagesima [15 February] to avoid the like of what occurred in early advent. Comments on missing correspondence from Paris; adding that 'Connor' does not think there is much in the difficulties mentioned in a letter.