Mostly photocopies of official letters between the Metropolitan Division of Garda Síochána, Department of Justice, and Department of External Affairs, concerning applications for passports for Christopher Conway and James Cummins. Includes a letter of reference from Mrs. Elizabeth Cooper, 5 South King Street (1st floor), Dublin, in support of the character of Christopher Conway, and his attempt to secure a passport, stating ‘I… certify that Christopher Conway has been staying with me for the past 2 years, and I know him to be honest and upright’ (3 October 1936). Also contains letter marked ‘SECRET’ from Michael J. Mansfield, Metropolitan Division of Garda Síochána, Special Branch, Dublin Castle, regarding passport applications of Christopher Conway, 5 South King Street, Dublin, and James Patrick Cummins, 30 Hanbury Lane, Thomas Street, Dublin, noting ‘Christopher Conway… has made application for a passport to travel to France; Italy; Belgium; Germany; Switzerland and Holland, for the ostensible purpose of visiting Lourdes… James Patrick Cummins… has applied for a passport for France for the ostensible purpose of visiting the grave of his deceased brother… Both Conway and Cummins are active members of the Communist Party of Ireland and Conway is also associated with the Republican Congress Group… it would appear that both recently volunteered for service in Spain and… that the object of these men in applying for passports is to make their way to Spain via France’ (9 October 1936). Also includes photocopy of handwritten letter from James P. Cummins, 30 Hanbury Lane, to Minister for External Affairs, Dublin, requesting the office to hasten the processing of his passport application ‘as the slowness of the officials concerned has almost spoiled the travel as owing to the lateness of the season & delay the journey will be anything but pleasant’ [29 October 1936].
