Letter from John Dillon to Sir John Maxwell, 8 May 1916. Letters 1916-1923 John Dillon

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A letter from John Dillon (1851-1927) to sir John Grenfell Maxwell (1859 - 1929). In this letter Dillon welcomes the fact that Maxwell has enlisted the services of Captain Crean who is aware of the National Volunteers and can help with the cases Dillon has sent to him.John Dillon was an Irish Party M.P. in the House of Commons. Dillon issued a speech in the House on 11 May 1916 condemning the British handling of the Rising which had been put down “with so much blood and so much savagery,” and called for an immediate end to the executions. Dillon would succeed John Redmond as leader of the Home Rule party in 1918. Sir John Henry Grenfell Maxwell was appointed commander in chief of the British forces in Ireland after the outbreak of the Easter Rising. Before 1916, Maxwell briefly held command of British troops in Egypt, where he successfully organised defences against a Turkish attack in February 1915 and presided over the huge expansion of his command as Egypt became a major British imperial military base. In March 1916, having been superseded as general officer commanding in Egypt, he was recalled home when the Easter Rising broke out.

 University College Dublin Archives DeValera Papers, P150/512/033 https://letters1916.ie/item/1381 English John Dillon 1916-05-08 2 North Georges Street, Dublin John Grenfell Maxwell Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 2 North George St. Dublin 8 May 1916 My Dear Sir John Maxwell I beg to thank you for your letter of 7th inst. I am very glad to hear that you have enlisted the services of Captain Crean — He knows all l about the National Volunteers. Enclosed are particulars of some cases — I am assured by reliable friends that two men mentioned in enclosed letters have had no connection with the Insurrection - or with the Organisations who prepared it. I feel bound to renew my earnest protest against the continued military executions. The list in this evenings paper has given a very severe shock to a large section of the people who are good friends of the Government — And who were utterly opposed to the Irish doings of last week. — The feeling is becoming widespread and intensely bitter -— It really could be difficult to exaggerate the amount of mischief that the executions are doing. As you kindly invite advice — there are two other matters I feel I ought to mention to you — I. I do not believe it is a wise measure to arm special Constables — they are not required — and seem to be quite ineffective — and in the present temper in the city they are very apt in my opinion to create disturbance. II. I very much doubt the wisdom of instituting searches and arrests in a large scale in districts in which there has been no disturbance. Yours sincerely John Dillon John Dillon Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Sir John Maxwell, 8 May 1916. John Grenfell Maxwell Letter from General John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 6 May 1916Letter from James O'Shea to John Grenfell Maxwell, 9 May 1916Letter from General Sir John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 12 May 1916Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 3 May 1916Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 1 May 1916.Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 1 May 1916Letter from Robert John Lynn to Sir John Maxwell, 2 May 1916Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 3 May 1916Letter from Sir John Maxwell to Lord French, 4 May, 1916Letter from John Dillon to Sir John Maxwell, 8 May 1916.Letter from Sir John Maxwell to Herbert Henry Asquith, 12 May 1916.Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 19 May 1916Letter from Sir John Maxwell to Lord French, 16 May 1916Letter from Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer to General John Grenfell Maxwell, 17 May 1916Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 29 April 1916Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 1 May 1916Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 29 April 1916 2 North Georges Street, Dublin Letter from John Dillon to Sir John Maxwell, 8 May 1916.