Letter from Robert Telford to David Lloyd George, 9 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Robert Telford

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This is a letter from Robert Telford to David Lloyd George (1863-1945), a British liberal politician and statesman. His most important role was prime minister of the Wartime Coalition Government (1916–22), during and immediately after the First World War. The letter is a warning to Lloyd George about the sermons of certain Catholic priests in America who were sympathetic to the rebel cause. He included some newspaper snippets.

National Archives of Ireland Chief Secretary's Office Registered Papers; CSO RP/1916/8937/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/1944 English Robert Telford 1916-05-09 179 Appleton Street, Cambridge, Massachussets, USA David Lloyd George Male Faith Industry and Public Administration

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 179 Appleton St,Cambridge, Mass,U.S.A. May 9, 1916 David Lloyd George Dear Sir You mustnot feel offended at me taking the libertyof bringing the following items to your notice.I don't see how you can know all thosethings, unless someone brings them toyour notice. A few years ago, Cardinal O' Connelof the Boston Diocese, sent MatthewCummings, President of the A.O.H. andprominent in the Clan-na-Gael, toIreland, accompanied by a Priestnamed Father Dunn (I believe thatwas his name). Their mission wasnever given out. It failed. Their mission was to bring the A.O.Hin Ireland into affiliation withthe A.O.H in America, so that IrishPolitics H, would be controlled in 2America. They saw Cardinal Logueand I suspect he stopped the scheme.Boston Archdiocese May 7thIn all, or nearly all, of the Catholicchurches of the archdiocese, at themasses yesterday morning, in the pray-ers for the dead, the congregations wererequested to pray for the souls of themen who were recently shot for trea-son in Dublin, men who died in defenceof the liberties of their native landwas added by many of priests. Washington, May 6 — The state-ment in the German note to the UnitedStates that twice within a few monthsthe German Government has indicatedits willingness to make peace, andstands ready to consider peace on cer-tain terms, is taken in some official cir-cles here as a hint that American me-diation would not be unacceptable tothe Kaiser. This part of the note has already brought out a reply from England and at the same time a communication from Pope Benedict to President Wilson. Archbishop Bonzano, the papal delegate to Washington, called at the White House today. He left with Sec Tumulty, for the President, a note from Pope Benedict. The White House explained that it was a strictly confidential communication and therefore it should not be made public without permission from the Vatican. Cardinal Gibbons also spokeyesterday, saying — There issomething in the wind, but itis not for me to speak of it now. 3 As matters have stood from the beginning of the war, Germany stands convicted in the eyes of the whole world as being the cause of the war. From what I learn by observing the German and Irish here, their object is to induce President Wilson to bring about a suspension of hostilities with the object of agreeing on Peace. That would be a terrible mistake for England to agree upon, once the War Machine stopped it would be rather difficult to start it again, as there would be such a world wide demand for Peace, Germany would not agree, but most likely they would be able to convince part of the world that the blame for keeping up the struggle was not hers but Englands. The Herald will not be responsible for un-solicited manuscript unless accompanied bypostage for return. MONDAY, MAY 8, 1916 IS GERMANY BIDDINGSTRONGLY FOR PEACE? In the welter of words which makeup the larger part of Germany's re-cent reply there is one passage whichhas received very little attention,although, if one reads between thelines, it is of great significance. TheGerman government has been movedto make its concessions, this passagedeclares, by the thought of thegreat doom which threatens the en-tire civilized world should this crueland sanguinary war be extended andprolonged. From the German point of viewwhat does this paragraph imply? Itcan mean but one thing. The great-est doom that could threaten the en-tire civilized world would be the ul-timate wearing-down and overthrowof German power. Down in his heartthe German official who wrote thatparagraph was not thinking of thedoom that would threaten English,French or Russian civilization. Hewas not thinking of kultur in thiscountry, for the Germans have nevercredited us with having very muchof it. Not at all. It is simply a caseof blurting out what the rest of theworld has long since recognized,namely, that anything which makesfor an extension or prolongation ofthe war is sure to weigh in the scaleagainst the Teutonic empires. Hencethe professed readiness to makegreat sacrifices in the interest ofworld-civilization. Now if Germany is strong enough,as she alleges, and self-sacrificingenough to give up the submarinewarfare which she values so greatly,might she not also be found readyto give up other things? To give upBelgium and norther France, forexample? Surely the impendingdoom of the entire civilized worldwould be worth great sacrifices toavert. In short, this cry againstthe prolonging of a cruel and san-guinary war looks very much likea well-developed yearning for peace.It is a far broader hint to the alliesthan anything that has heretoforebeen given to them. Boston HeraldMay 8th 1916 5 as our Post Office is full of Pro German Irish, I thought it best to register the letter. I do hope that an election in England will be avoided until sometime after the war ends. I am an ex. Liverpool Police Officer, have seven relations in the army, Sorry that I am rather too old myself being 67. Yours Faithfully Robert Telford David Lloyd George Deportation Order from the Secretary of State to James Gough, 17 June 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to John Redmond, 29 September 1916Letter from Robert Telford to David Lloyd George, 9 May 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to John Redmond, 21 June 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to John Redmond, 6 October 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to Edward Carson, 3 June 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to Edward Carson, 14 October 1916 Robert Telford Letter from Robert Telford to David Lloyd George, 9 May 1916 179 Appleton Street, Cambridge, Massachussets, USA Letter from Robert Telford to David Lloyd George, 9 May 1916