Ex -Chairman Priest Stands His Ground

From a Special Correspondent
THE DISCLOSURE IN THE " CATHOLIC HERALD " OF A COMMUNIST THREAT TO THE IRISH ANTI-PARTITION LEAGUE IS SUPPORTED BY THE PRIEST-CHAIRMAN, WHO RESIGNED HIS OFFICE.
The officers of the League, however, emphatically deny allegations of any Communist co-operation in a letter, protesting that the League itself has neither Communist nor militant aims nor attachments.
They deny that the League has any responsibility for what others may attempt to do under cover of the League.
" There is no Communist threat to the Irish Anti-Partition League," indignantly declared several people identified with the movement in Manchester with whom I discussed these allegations.
Others admitted, however, the existence of Leftist elements in their midst.
When asked whether as Catholics they would continue their association with the League, they declined to answer. But one said : "I shall hang on and see what happens."
There are other members, too, who do not consider these influences sufficiently grave to warrant their own withdrawal as Catholics, or their taking steps to have these influences eradicated.
The priest ex-chairman of the League, to whom reference Wff8 Made in the CATHOLIC HERALD (frObrttfticy 10.1, told me categorically that "the Reds are going to use this movement, as they ace others, far their own purposes, and to cause unrest."
As a corollary to the statement in the mentioned article that he resigned from the League " because of the irresponsible action of some of its members," he adds: "I resigned because I felt I had to do so as a priest. The accusation of Communism is being attached to the League, and whether that is true or false, at all events I do not see how it can be combatted owing to the work of Leftists outside the League.'
Outside the League
What is this " work outside the League "?
The second issue (February) of a new Irish Leftist monthly contains a letter of welcome, signed: "J. E. De Courcy Ireland, Hon. Press Secretary of the Irish Anti-Partition League (Manchester)."
Mr Ireland, a non-Catholic, represents on the League " The Irish Prisoners' National Aid Society."
Yet I understand that the League did not authorise Mr Ireland to write any letter at all to that newspaper in his capacity as a League official, nor were his colleagues aware that he intended writing one.
An article in the January issue of this Leftest newspaper, signed " Fenian," is, I am reliably informed, the work of a member of the committee, who does not deny his authorship.
" Not Good Tactics "
It says, among other things : " Then there is the problem of the Church and Anti-Partition League. It is probably not good tactics to give the Craigavon mob the opportunity of saying that the national movement is dominated by Rome. In England the Tories might and the Fascists would say the same.
" But if priests come in, we can only drive them out at the risk of losing the support of sincere Catholics, and after all priests are going to fight Craigavon as they are fighting Hitler, and so long as we do not for one moment allow the nationalist movement to lose its non-sectarian character we must welcome their co-operation."
Denounced
The paper in which the above candid remarks appear has been denounced as definitely Communist by the Rey. R. Manning, of St. Edward's, Manchester. He has repeatedly warned Irish boys and girls not to read it.
Chairman's Protest
The following letter has been received from the chairman and secretary of the League: It is deplorable that the sensational tinge is obtained by a string of inaccuracies which reflect seriously upon the characters, competency and trustworthiness of the executive members of the League.
The juxtaposing of a reference to bomb explosions and the affairs of the AntiPartition League can only lead to confusion in the minds of your readers. Though the objects of the League are clearly set out later in the article, the impression will persist that the AntiPartition League is involved in the bombing incidents and in association with Communism. The League has no knowledge of, or association with, whoever might be responsible for the explosions; its policy has been plainly stated to be persuasive and educative— not militant. The utterances of speakers at its public meeting and all literature published under its auspices have been consistent with this policy.
Only One Non-Catholic
To aid your readers in assessing the refutations which follow, we should state that whilst the League is non-sectarian, only one executive member out of twenty-four is definitely known to be non-Catholic. Of the remainder twentytwo are personally known to us as practising Catholics. To stigmatise such a body as Communist would require weightier evidence than that adduced in your article.
You state that : " It soon became evident that the movement was being used by persons who were not solely concerned with the removal of the border."
In support of this you state that (a) the priest-chairman was unseated and lb) the view was held that priests should not be invited to sit on the platform. The priest-chairman was not urisettteri. He resigned the chairmanship, and in so doing stated that he had accepted the office only until such time as the League was through its inaugural
difficulties. He would remain a member of the committee, and would do his utmost to further the work we had undertaken.
Priests on Platform
Invitations to sit on the platform were extended to at least fifty priests. Many of these expressed the opinion that it would be imprudent to accept; a view shared by some members of the committee. However, a number did accept the invitation and were present on the platform.
To quote your article alsain: "Party politicians were allowed to use the League for party propaganda. The Constitution of Ireland was put aside as Conservative, and the leader of the Irish people was spoken of as a reactionary who favoured capitalism."
Twenty thousand handbills were distributed. In the main they were distributed outside Catholic churches with the sanction of the parish priests. Some found their way into the organisations of political parties, Conservative, Liberal and Labour, at the discretion and with the assistance of committee members. The indiscretion whereby some of these were placed in a Left bookshop was raised and dealt with at a subsequent executive meeting.
Section Resigns
The criticism of the Irish Constitution and the Irish leader was voiced at one of the inaugural meetings, and at a subsequent committee meeting. The section holding those views ceased to be connected with the League when cooperation with the Irish leader was laid down as part of its policy.
The sinister suggestion quoted above would be hard to infer from these simple facts.
It is further suggested that the League must accept responsibility for literature sold outside the Free Trade Hall after the demonstration. The League accepts responsibility for the literature, the sale of which it sanctioned, to wit, two pamphlets—" The Last Quarrel! " and " Report of a Commission on the Operation of the Special Powers Act." To saddle us with responsibility for the mass of miscellaneous publications which are invariably offered for sale after all such meetings is palpably unfair.
The mis-statements dealt with above provide the basis for a very serious final charge. The League
" has allowed itself to be used by astute propagandists."
" No Evidence " We reaffirm that there is no evidence to sustain such a rash accusation, which implies either weakness or dishonesty on the part of the entire executive. The League will allow itself to be used by no political party. Its work is to inform the British public of the facts of partition and to convince them that their own interests as well as justice demand the removal of the border. If we cannot do this without falling prey to subversive political elements It is regrettable, but surely the time to deplore and condemn is when such lamentable state has been reached. In the meantime we would expect our efforts to have the enthusiastic support and encouragement of the Catholic Press, rather than to be subjected to such unjust tirades, and we ask and trust that equal prominence will be given to this reply as was given to the original article.
(Signed) Boast LEE,
Chairman, ALFRED HANEKIN, Hon. Secretary, Irish Anti-Partition League, Manchester.