Proposed Terms of Agreement, 7 May 1923
The Papers of Eamon de Valera held in UCD Archives contain a series of documents from 1922 and 1923 on the reorganisation of Sinn Féin, peace moves and ceasefire.
UCDA P150/1823 is a copy of draft ‘Proposed Terms of Settlement (7 May 1923) proposed by de Valera on behalf of the Combined Republican Government and Army Council’ during the peace negotiations sponsored by Senators Andrew Jameson and James Douglas. Included with the draft is a holograph covering note dated ten years later (23 September 1933) to de Valera from Frank Aiken, Minister for Defence, commenting on the enclosed copies of the draft proposals − ‘Paragraph D of attached page is the important one to stress in present circumstances. The terms of settlement were approved unanimously by the Executive of the I.R.A. who were free at the end of the Civil War. Copies were sent to all units in the country and to all jails and camps and not a single protest was received although we were in Daily communications with the prisoners’.
UCDA P150/1823 Papers of Eamon de Valera. Reproduced by kind permission of UCD-OFM Partnership.
To President
Paragraph D of attached page is the important one to stress in present circumstances. The terms of the settlement were approved unanimously by the executive of the I.R.A. who were free at the end of the Civil War. Copies were sent to all units in the country and to all jails and camps and not a single protest was received although we were in daily communication with the prisoners.
A[iken]
M/D [Minister of Defence]
23-9-33
PS This is my only copy. F.