THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: De Valera’s new game of hide and seek

From the News Letter, December 21, 1920
On this day in 1920 the News Letter reported the whereabouts of Eamon de Valera were a mysteryOn this day in 1920 the News Letter reported the whereabouts of Eamon de Valera were a mystery
On this day in 1920 the News Letter reported the whereabouts of Eamon de Valera were a mystery

“For some reason best known to himself and his associates, de Valera, the Sinn Fein leader, and self-styled ‘President the Irish Republic’, has chosen to disappear from public sight for the time being; but it is clear that his friends are endeavouring to create mystery as his whereabouts for the purpose of cloaking his real designs movements, whatever they may be,” declared the News Letter on this day in 1920.

The News Letter continued: “About week ago he was reported have disappeared from his hotel in New York. Then it was said he was ‘in hiding’ in the country, and this was followed by the assertion of his secretary that he was still in the city. Following this, the story was spread that he was on board the Cunard liner Aquitania, then on the high seas, making her passage from New York to England, via Cherbourg, the French port.

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“Some credence appeared to be attached this last rumour through the announcement by the Press Association yesterday that information had been received in responsible official quarters in London to the effect that de Valera was on board the Aquitania. It was suggested that he was travelling incognito, though whether passenger a member the crew was not known. The authorities were apparently much impressed with the news they are said to have received that they took steps to watch the ports, especially Southampton, the vessel’s first port of call in England, and which, it was expected, would be reached late last night or early this morning, after the liner had called Cherbourg to land her continental passengers and mails.”

Part of the story, however, was seen to be without foundation, noted the News Letter, when a Reuter’s message was received from New York stating that the offices the Cunard Company there had made a flat denial that de Valera was a passenger on the Aquitania. But the company added, however, that there was remote possibility of his being stowaway.

Meanwhile, the boast being made in Sinn Fein circles in London the previous day was if de Valera’s presence in Ireland were necessary that he could “get into that country as easily as he got out of England in 1919”, when he escaped from prison.

The News Letter commented: “Possibly this boast furnishes the clue to the whole mystery, as, if de Valera decided to appear in Ireland once more - whether to make protest against the enactment Home Rule this week, or for other purposes - he would probably secure passage stealth.”