1 8, Waterloo Place,
Pall Mall,
London. S.W. 25 March 1916 Dear Mr Redmond I saw Mr Donald of the "Daily
Chronicle" today and had an interesting
interview with him in regard to the Freeman
which I hope will lead to something. He recommends abandoning the idea
of journalistic departures in the states,
but has agreed to keep me in the Irish
sphere. He thinks the money should be largely
Irish. I will communicate with you
further on the matter at a later date. I saw Healy last week and broached to
him in the form of a personal recommendation
the advisablity in the national interests at
the present time of reuniting different sections
in the national side under your leadership
After a somewhat lengthened recapitulation 2 of grievances most of which seemed to me to be
of the variety usually associated with feminine
"amenities" of the personal type, I got him to
agree to consult O'Brien. I had a further
interview after he had done so the gist of
which appears to be - when the usual when
the usual expands "fighting for an
opening" statements were strained off -
that they seem desirous of coming into
the fold again. I told him if anythng
was likely to ensure something more
definite must be done. The following which I took down in
writing is what he then said.
"If Mr Redmond will forthwith call"
"a meeting to consider the reorganisation"
"of the national movement on broader"
"lines with a view to national unity"
"and make all nationalist members"
"including those non members of the"
"Party to a conference on the subject"
"Mr O'Briens party will attend." I immediately told Healy that in my 3 opinion any such conferences would almost of necessaity result
in the accentuation of differences and personal bitterness
rather than in the reuniting of the different sections, and that
all at stake would be at the mercy of the irresponsible firebrands
in both sections. I said it seemed to be hopeless to put forward
any such suggestion and that I would like to think over the
advisability of my doing so for a few days (I thought it best
to say this so as to leave it open for me to tell him, in case
you are averse to the idea, that I had abandoned all idea of
seeking to do anything in the matter). I also said I thought
a much better course to take, if unity was to be established
between the principle people on both sides first with
a view to seeing if it would be at all possible to arrive
at a working basis and if so then to have the meeting
he suggested. He seemed not indisposed to this
course. This is how things were left when I parted with
him. If you would care for me to act in any way
further in this matter please let me know and
of course if you would wish me to act in any way in
bringing about an informal preliminary meeting I will
do all I can in the metter. Yours sincerely Edmund J Frewer