Letter from +Craven to +McQuaid regarding Fr. Connolly.

Copy letter from +McQuaid to +Craven stating he has asked Fr. Connolly to speak with him about an Emigrant’s newspaper.

Typed report of ‘V’ Committee meeting. The following items are mentioned in the report: Conor Farrington was refused visa to study in USA. Justin Keating also refused. Anthony Morrison was married to Maria Timmons in 1957 and is unemployed at present. Mrs. O’Connell’s report is awaited. Mrs McAuley’s husband makes vestments. She was appointed to the Adoption Board at the instance of Maureen Keane. Is a source of trouble to Fr. Barrett and the Government. She is a Socialist of the Welfare State type tends to be anti-clerical and anti-nun. Frank Edwards and his wife are soured and bitter. Their son and daughter practice their religion. Eamonn Lyons was an activist in the Connolly Association in England. Spoke at a Public Meeting in Abbey Street. His mother is a practicing Catholic and Lyons did not undertake propaganda work in the area in which his family resides. Regarding the motor trade and the Iron Curtain Countries, George and Pirek, two Czechs, are trying to push trade in the motor business. Imminent merge of the CIU and the TUC. Fr. Kent spoke of certain aspects of the proposed union of these congresses of Trade Unions.

Typed letter from Fr. Liam Carey to Fr. James Ardle McMahon informing him that Mr. Tony Brown, Mr. Jerome Connolly and Mr. Thomas Roseingrave have been contacted retarding the work that the Committee decided should be done. Mr. Roseingrave has been asked to speak to a paper by An Taoiseach, Mr. Lynch, titled ‘Are Social Principles Enough’.

Typed report on CPI and KO activities. John Nolan’s visit to London was the main item discussed at the Executive Committee meeting on 24th July. It appears that the IWL is to focus on two main channels – the question of Partition and Emigration. By using this approach it is hoped to bring League activities to the notice of application by Carrie Wine (Mrs. Justin Keating) for an Irish passport. various bodies and individuals. Greaves has just published a pamphlet titled ‘The Irish Case Against Partition’. Publicity is to be given to the visit of Bord na Mona executives to Russia Irish emigrants are to be told of the advantages of joining the Connolly Clubs discussion on CIE

Described the Revolution as the greatest event in human history. Ireland celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the greatest event in its history last year, the 1916 Rising. Irish Communists proud of the pre -revolutionary position taken up by James Connolly regarding the Leninist position of an Imperialist war. Lenin championed the Irish Uprising of 1916. Working class of Ireland congratulated the Russian people on their revolution. The Social Democratic and Trade Union Movement accepted the invitation to send delegates to the International Conference in Petrograd. Irish delegates come with a deep respect for the sacrifices of the Soviet people.

Typed letter to Fr. MacMahon from Fr. Brian O’Sullivan giving information on Eamon Lyons, Crumlin. He worked in England and the USA. Was a promoter in the Connolly Club movement in England. Is reported to have appeared at a public meeting in Abbey Street.

Handwritten report saying Prescott’s letter and newspaper article from The Tablet enclosed. Saga Films Ltd may offer free films on travel. Book review in The Plough quotes priest praising Connolly Club. Police did not expect Saturday night’s row. Castle group dispersed. Government thinks Communism too remote. A man from Russell Avenue became a Protestant and got a good job at Telecommunications.

Handwritten report saying that Sam Nolan and Deasy are going to seminar in Czechoslovakia. Selected by IWL at the request of the British Communist Party. Their subject is: ‘The Relationship between the Church and Trade Unions’. O’Riordan was in Moscow for May Day. Wonders what Eamon Byrne is doing here. Is he trying to start a branch of Connolly Association?

Typed letter to Fr. T. Fehily from Fr. Michael O’Neill, St. Columban’s, Navan. Fr. O’Neill’s informant is not prepared to give an opinion on the Irish Workers’ Union at present. Pat O’Donovan has been expelled. There is a split in the Connolly Association, led by O’Donovan and the Trotskyites. Believes that the IWU came into being as a result. The key man in IWU is Michael Callinan. Does not know if there is a link between the Socialist Labour League and the IWL. It seems that the Trotskyites hoped to use the Irish Workers’ Union as a front for recruiting just as the British CP used the Connolly Association, but failed.