Untitled Page 8

8.

I must some day pay the penalty --
I do not mind that if I have helped
Ireland. But I am not disposed
to be the agent to put others, less
enlightened perhaps than I am, into the
terrible personal position I find myself
in, unless I see clearly that Ireland
gains something from this sacrifice
and that the men themselves shall have
the fullest guarantees that that
sacrifice of theirs is not altogether
in vain.

I have certain written
guarantees in this regard as you are
aware. It is not written agreement
is lacking: it is the spirit of
agreement, and of confidence on
which alone agreement rests, I find
most wanting.

If, as was said to me yesterday
and as I have slowly and painfully