Madam, - Permit me to correct an erroneous statement contained in a tribute to Peter Benenson, one of the co-founders of Amnesty, published in your edition of March 5th. The relevant piece reads: "In 1964 there was discord between him and other Amnesty leaders, particularly Seán MacBride, the best-known figure in the movement".
Following upon Peter Benenson's Observer article, seven men met in Luxembourg where Amensty International was founded in July 1961. Seán Mac Bride, a co-founder, was appointed chairman of the international executive while Peter Penenson was selected as general secretary until he asked to be relieved in 1964 owing to ill-health.
A resolution was then proposed by the Irish, Danish and Norwegian sections to make Peter Benenson president of the International Executive because of his unique contribution to Amnesty - no such post was provided for in the statute, but it was understood that he would attend IEC meetings and act in an advisory capacity.
Unfortunately, at the end of 1966 Mr Benenson started making extremely serious allegations about members of the secretariat, which almost resulted in the complete cessation of Amnesty's activities. Trying to protect the movement, Seán MacBride appointed Mr Peter Calvocoressi to investigate the charges and to inquire into the internal stuctures of Amnesty. The Calvocoressi Report, by which Mr Benenson agreed to be bound, was discussed over a special two-day executive meeting in March 1967 at Elsinore in Denmark, and Peter Benenson then retired from the IEC.
Seán MacBride retired as chairman of the executive of Amnesty in 1974, during which time he helped draft the constitution, undertook missions, and insisted on getting the deed of trust for the prisoner of conscience fund regularised. Your readers and members of Amnesty International may wish to know that good relations between Seán MacBride and Peter Benenson were restored: they corresponded by phone and letter until 1988. - Yours, etc.,
CAITRIONA LAWLOR, Redesdale Road, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin