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20/12/21
A Mathair Dilis
I was delighted to receive your letter this morning - the
more so because of your attitude to the Treaty. I am glad
to know that you do not want peace at such a price. This is
most encouraging, as well as comforting to me just now, when
the chances of war are so great.
I did not express much of an opinion about the Treaty when
writing last week, for then it was generally expected that
it would be ratified and so I left it over until I get home.
Anyhow, I can more freely express my dissatisfaction with
it now than I could then. There is less chance of my being
misunderstood now. It was a safe matter for people to say
that they preferred war to such a Treaty when there was a
likelihood of the Treaty being ratified, but now when it is
likely that it will be rejected with war as a certain result,
most of these people would be glad to accept far less than
face war.
Though completely dissatisfied, I was - on account of my
position - willing to take the same stand as HQ staff. This
of course was only proper from the military point of view,
but I was determined that this would only be as long as nothing
arose to conflict with principle and my oath and allegiance
to the Republic. I will stick to this oath whatever Government
is in power, though it may eventually mean my being fired
out of the Army.
I feel certain now that the Treaty will not be ratified and
candidly I am glad. The sensible and advisable thing would
be its acceptance if we only look at it from the material
and even the military point of view, but then it would be
a denial of principle, tradition and history. We have lived
on these in the past and I don't think we could get on without
them in the future. I felt far happier during the war than
I felt for the past week, and far more so, I am sure, than
I would feel in a Free State. What interest would there be
in an Army or anything else that England still had a claim
on?
The whole business is a terrible calamity. We would be far
better off if we never had a Truce, for before it there was
not this disunion and ill-will that exists at present. The
only person that will benefit by this is L. George.
War, as bad as it is, is the only means I see of bringing
the people together again. I don't care to think what will
happen if the people of the Free State have a majority. If
they do, I fear that we will be anxious to get back to war
again. After all the sufferings and sacrifice, I never thought
that things would come to such a pass. There must be something
in the saying that we can never agree about anything. 'Tis
a great pity that Mick Collins should be in such a position.
He, nor the others, cannot be blamed for what they did, for
the position they found themselves in was a dreadful one.
If Mick only considered himself, he would have no hesitation
in refusing.
The whole business will, I suppose, mean at any rate that
I cannot go home for Christmas. Tomorrow or after will decide
out fate. If it is war, it is a glorious thing that we are
still faithful to our ideals, in spite of the terrible alternatives.
It will be a pity if I cannot get home after having chanced
it for so long, but it will be only a small item if the racket
starts again.
So I may not have the opportunity of writing to you again.
I want to tell you that you need not expect to hear from me
again once the racket starts. Things will be different from
the last time, and 'tis not likely that many letters will
get through, especially so far. You can pray and trust in
God. He may see us through alright again.
I will not say that I hope to see you next Saturday, for
that it would be like hoping that the Treaty is ratified,
but perhaps L. George may let us get Christmas over.
Slan agus beannacht libh,
Cormac.
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