Letter from Maurice Bonham Carter to Mr Hutchison, 17 May 1916. Letters 1916-1923 Maurice Bonham Carter

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A letter from Maurice Bonham Carter (1880-1960) to a Mr Hutchison. It encloses a telegram received from Sir Edward Grey's private secretary. Grey (1862-1933), was British foreign secretary between 1905 and 1916. The message states that the Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith (1852-1928), cannot give an interview but he suggests that Sir John Maxwell (1859-1929) might do so. Bonham Carter sets out the procedure for the interview and suggests that Hutchison enlist the assistance of Berry (believed to be an American Correspondent staying at the Gresham Hotel). Carter wants to counteract the negative feeling in America (over the executions) and makes a number of suggestions as to what the journalist might include in the piece. Finally Carter refers to having met Daily Mail correspondent, Montagu Smith. The latter was very interested in the 'North King Street cases' (fifteen civilians killed by British soldiers) and it is suggested that Hutchison meet up with Smith and a solicitor who acts for families of victims and who is calling for a public inquiry.

 University College Dublin Archives De Valera Papers, P150/512 https://letters1916.ie/item/1402 English Maurice Bonham Carter 1916-05-17 Vice Regal Lodge, Dublin, Ireland Mr Hutchison Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 VICE REGAL LODGE, DUBLIN. May 17. 1916 Dear Hutchison I enclose a telegram which I received last night from the Sir E. Greys Private Secretary. explains itself The Prime Minister cannot give the interview at this moment, but he wishes me to suggest that Sir John Maxwell might do so. As you may not have had experience of such things may I explain the procedure. The actual interview is almost a matter of from 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour just to give the journalist some slight acquaintance with his subject. The substance of what is wished to appear, is given to the interviewer in the form of a written statement, which he will translate into his own words & then submit explain He will submit the draft interview for revision - The Prime Minister wishes me to write to you to suggest that you might prepare such a statement on the lines generally indicated in the telegram & get Berry to put it into the form of an interview. I think that the final draft might be set sent over to me before publication for the P.M to see. I do not I think you will have no difficulty in arranging this. There is undoubtedly considerable feeling aroused against us in America which it is worth while endeavouring to counteract. If I may make a few suggestions. I should say that the more impartially the case in presented the better: if if possible give instances & details numbers of unarmed officers men & civilians shot at the outset of the casualties outbreak , point out the wanton futility of the outbreak how men's lives were sacrificed for no object; how destruction of life & property began before the military force came effectivedly on the scene. This iswhat is needed is to counteract the idea which is being spread, that our forces had no provocation & that the military were responsible for most of the loss of innocent life & for the destruction of property, in particular for the fires in Sackville Street. It might be worth taking Berry round the chief centres of fighting to show the difficulties of with which our men had to contend, the exact obvious one being the intermingling of peaceful civilians with the rebels. These are only suggestions for your consideration. Will you put the proposal before Sir John & let me know what he decides? I go to Cork Tomorrow & shall be back at Downing St on Fri morning. There is one other matter which is perhaps worth mentioning. This is from myself only, as I have not had an opportunity of mentioning it to the Prime Minister. I saw tonight the correspondent of the Daily Mail Montagu Smith. He is quite a good man & I think can be trusted. He has been interesting himself in the North King Street cases & seems to know a good deal about them. He tells me that the solicitor who represented at the inquest the families of men found buried is a temperate respectable man who honestly wants to prevent trouble if possible. He wants to get an a public inquiry undertaken into the cases & that all public inquests should be stopped. He says that other cases will present a worse appearance than the one which has just beenbeen sat upon. I give you this for what it is worth thinking that it may be worth while for one of your people to see Montagu Smith & perhaps the solicitor Larden is his name I think. I am very sorry for all of you who have to bear the burden of this pitiable business Yours sincerely Maurice Bonham Carter Post Office Telegraphs May 16th 1916 To { Confidential Bonham Carter Vice Regal Lodge. Dublin Following from Drammond:- Irish executions are being used effectually against us in America. Would Mr Asquith give short interview to American correspondent. Berry is the best most suitable. He is at the Gresham Hotel. Interview should emphasise clemency of Government comparing number of casualties inflicted by the rebels & how rebels killed innocent people at the beginning of outbreak. Spring Rice telegraphs confirming this. Sir E. Grey approves this telegram. Vice Regal Lodge, Dublin, Ireland Letter from the Town Clerk, Blackrock, County Dublin, to Lord Wimborne, 20 April 1916Letter from Maurice Bonham Carter to Mr Hutchison, 17 May 1916.Letter from Fitzgerald to Thomas Percy Kirkpatrick, 17 July 1918 Maurice Bonham Carter Letter from M. Bonham Carter to Lord Wimborne, 19 February 1916Letter from Maurice Bonham Carter to Mr Hutchison, 17 May 1916.