A chara, - Most of those who commented on the film were pleased with it and I do not want to be critical, but I must correct one aspect which is misleading. It is false to create the impression that de Valera sent Collins to London to negotiate with the British in order to get rid of him. The team sent to London was selected by the cabinet. They would have all known that Griffith was a King, Lords and Commons' man. Clearly a sea-green incorruptible was also essential, and who could be better than Collins for this role?
There is a small detail, but if my interpretation is correct, it is a detail which enhances de Valera. The film shows the meeting at which he urges the burning of the Custom House. De Valera hand just returned from the US and is often criticised for this proposal, in which many of the best men in the Dublin Brigade lost their lives.
This meeting, attended by most of the leaders not in jail, took place in our house, 40 Herbert Park. Most of the leaders arrived on their bicycles, which were left in the front garden for anyone to see. When de Valera arrived, he said to my mother: "I want you to send two of the boys outside to keep watch." Mother believed keeping watch would be dangerous and said: "I will do no such thing." She probably thought to herself: "I have already lost my husband, and now they want me, to lose my children."
Thinking about this in later years, I am now convinced that de Valera knew very well that two boys outside the house could give no warning to those at the meeting. He wanted us outside, as he knew that if there was a raid there would be a shoot-out and all those inside the house would be either killed in the fighting, or arrested. It was for our safety that he wanted us outside.
It has been mentioned in another letter that de Valera was the last leader to surrender in 1916. I can add to this that when he was surrendering, he said to the British officer: "Remember my men were just obeying orders. I take full responsibility for everything which we did."
It is not generally known how de Valera escaped execution. When day by day all the leaders were being executed the thought occurred to his wife that he was a US citizen and she asked the US Ambassador to intervene on his behalf. The British were then desperately anxious to get the US to join in the war against Germany, and it was this which saved de Valera. - Is mise,
Clondalkin, Co Dublin.