Memorandum entitled 'The Anglo-Irish Peace Conference' by Hagan

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Pontifical Irish College

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Hagan, John

Hagan, John, 1873-1930

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[Copy] typescript memorandum entitled 'The Anglo- Irish Peace Conference – The inner history of the re-' cent papal telegram to the King of England', by [Hagan], to explain the background to DeValera's recent telegram to Benedict XV, which caused a storm in the English press. Setting forth that the Pope's telegram was inspired by a papal audience for Dr. Cowgill, Bishop of Leeds, director of the recent English pilgrimage. He in turn may have acted on the suggestion by Lord Beaverbrook that the pilgrims ought to attain a message from the Holy See urging a settlement of the Irish question, if not even recommend that the Irish accept the terms offered. The papal telegram ultimately 'did not fall into the error of recommending Ireland to accept any particular form of settlement inside or outside the English Empire', but it is to be regret- ted that a telegram was not sent to President DeValera.