The Washington times., 1922-09-01
GGY BEAL MET "PERFECT LOVER I'm FILTRATION
COLLINS TRIED
/. To HAVE PEACE
W|THDE VALERA
Irish Hero Up to His Death
Hoped to conciliate
Former Friend.


Former Friend.
That Michael Collins blamed
Erskine Childers more than any
other man for the present unrest
in Ireland is set forth in this re-
markdble tnstallment of Michael
Collins Oi0n Book" compiled in
collaboration Nth Hayden Talbot,
Representative of The Washington
Times. The Times cannot be too
emphatic in asserting that the
document is published for it's
historic interest only and toithout
prejudice for or against either side
of the conflicting Irish elements.
By HAYDEN TALBOT.
Copyright. 1899. New York American.
CHAPTER vi.
Section 1.
"Of all the many men who
throughout hundreds of years have
done Ireland grievous harm, prob
ably none managed to deal the Irish
people such an overwhelming blow
as Erskine Childers. This English
man may be sincere in all he pro.
fesses, and so far as / am con.
cerned it makes little difference
what his actual motives are-but
the fact remains that he has
worked steadily since 1912 in
flicting damage on the Irish
cause. The pity is that those who
had known all the facts felt that
1t was inadvisable to make them
public. The time has come when
the truth must be told"
Publication Deferred.
Michael Collins made this state
ment to me about a fortnight ago
on his return from a flying trip 70
Limerick. He forbade my rsleasinp
the statement for publication until
he had made a last effort to induce
De Valera to end his campaign-an
effort which II will be recalled he
announced officially the day tina,
Griffith died.
From the outset Collins had sew
eral OF the best men on his intelli
gence staff in positions Of hign com
mand among the irregulars. Through
them he not only kept in consta nj
touch with their movements and
plans but was able to exert Influence
on some OF Valera's followers. To
the very last he clung TO the hone
that Valera would disperse his forces
But the night he took me into his
confidence regarding Childers he
promised II would be a short lime
only before either peace would come
or i wouh be free to let the world
know whom Collins held primarily
responsible for Ireland's tragic
plight .
II hate mud singing" Collins
continued: There has been toe
much OF that sort OF thing for the
past nine months. But the Irish
people have a right to know all
there Is 20 know about the conflict
for which they are going to have
to pay.
Assails Chflders.
ut may be recalled that Brusha
at the last session Of Dali Eireana
eulogized Childers and declared ht
hao done more for Ireland than any
other living mantle eulogy 40
companying his motion calling OF
Dali to pass a vote of censure or
PRESIDENT Griffith for having called
Chlders damned Englishman.
Brugha is dead, but Childers is ver,
much alive.
my own feeling" continued Col
lins' is that Childers not only
never worked any good toward Ire
land but that he consistently and
continuously has done ireland harm
Ten years ago. Childers-then ir
the English Civil Service and with
more or less influence among q
certain coterie in the House OF
Commons-was urging In every way
at his command that the British
Government should grant to thu
irish people a measure Of freedom
that was as unthinkable to the Eng
lish view as II was even more radica
than the most advanced Irishmar
dreamed of getting.
This Englishman."
Then. as at all times since, thi.
Englishman was dhmning an,
chances Ireland might have had O,
winning reasonable concession,
from Englsnd-by advocating an ex
treme course Of action which mus
inevitably heighten British hostilit,
against us.
Down through the years Child
ers' record shows that he never ono,
deviated from his set purpose oil
ways to be more extreme than tn,
extremist Irish radicals.
II said that 1t makes little differ
ence whether Childers is sincere-ir
fact. every proposal Of his has beer
impracticable when II has not beer
positively damaging enough in itself
But this doesn't mean that
haven't a very definite opinion a.
to his sincerity.
Twenty Years Ago"
Twenty years ago, Childers wrot,
a book wherein he made out a Der
: feet case, for an astounding kind O.
superspy-working In the English
secret service. His ingenious schem,
was nothing less than having a sp,
join the extreme faction in the enem,
country and lead them to excessel
that eventually would bring about
desired war. That was Childers O
twenty years ago.
Let us look into his activities al
the champion Of the cause of Irisi
freedom. keeping in mind this schem,