Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

George Wyndham and the Irish Devolution Crisis of 1904-05: a fascinating archive of autograph or initialled MS letters written to Wyndham on the occasion of his resignation as Chief Secretary for Ireland amid Unionist hostility aroused by reports proposing devolved government for Ireland, in which his involvement was suspected.

Correspondents include:

Lord Abercorn, a prominent reforming landowner, expresses sympathy and concern for Wyndham's health, and writes: "I only wish that you had drawn [Under Secretary for Ireland Sir Anthony MacDonnell] with you in your resignation"

Winston Spencer Churchill, future Prime Minister, offers kindness and sage advice: "I do not think you will regret the step you have taken....the honest endeavours you have made for Ireland will be remembered & the Land Bill will be their monument....I do hope and trust you will not allow the vexations of the hour to darken your life." Signed "Believe me always your sincere friend Winston Churchill."

Sir Anthony MacDonnell, the aforementioned undersecretary, is upset at the situation but his main concern is for his own prospects, does not acknowledge his part in Wyndham's misfortunes: "So far as I can tell at present my own situation is not altered....", in its envelope with Dublin postmark.

Arthur James Balfour, Prime Minister, whom Wyndham had once served as Private Secretary, in a dictated letter, offers moral support and advice: "If I were you, I am disposed to think that I would make no statement for the present, but would forget Ireland altogether and devote myself to the much more important task of getting thoroughly fit.", on 10 Downing Street letter head, signed in his own hand and in its envelope; accompanied by a telegram from Balfour advising Wyndham not to come to London or deal with business.

James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury, Lord Privy Seal, laments Wyndham's departure and predicts that the whole cabinet will soon be in opposition: "....it is only a question of a few months and you have just preceded us. And yet I know it must have been very distressing for you.", signed "Yours ever S"

Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, regrets Wyndham's resignation and assumes some responsibility for it: "My Dear George, your decision to leave us is a great blow to me. I have no doubt that you did not arrive at it without much reflection [but] I am losing in you a colleague to whom I was specially attached and who stood by me loyally [and I feel that] had it not been for me and my original recommendation of A.P. [MacDonnell] all this might never have happened." Signed "Yours ever L"

The Right Honourable Richard Burdon Haldane, Liberal MP and soon to be Secretary of State for War in the new Liberal Government, worries about Wyndham's health and offers the compliments of the opposing party on his performance in office: "It is with very real concern that I hear that you are knocked up with the worries of these days. We all think on our side that you did splendid work for Ireland...." on House of Commons-embossed paper, signed "R. B. Haldane"

Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, later one of the architects of appeasement, writes just prior to Wyndham's resignation to offer his support: "Feby 25. 1905. My Dear George Wyndham, I really cannot help telling you how entirely [?] I think you have been in regard to all this business connected with Sir Anthony MacDonnell.... so many good wishes and...great hopes for your political future", written from the Grand Hotel, Grasse, Alpes Maritimes, signed "Halifax".

Mary Constance Wyndham, Lady Elcho, George Windham's elder sister, expresses her concern for him at length and with great emotion, and discusses his relationship with Balfour: "All yesterday I was plunged in sadness about you & I seemed to go to sleep bathed in sadness & woke up soaked in it...Arthur [Balfour] has I think been thinking of almost nothing but you all the week.."; "...if the Gov. did go out on this question of Home Rule...people would neither forgive nor forget & it seems most unfair that this, which you do not deserve, should be laid at your door...", in two letters, the first unfinished and the second signed "your devoted sister Mary". Lady Elcho's letters provide a thorough analysis of the situation.

Together with numerous other letters giving a valuable insight into this chapter in the story of Irish independence, and including a large number of the autograph signatures of prominent personalities of the period. [Approx. 127]

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Between late-1902 and early-1903, amid increasing tension between Irish landlords and their tenants and in the context of the escalating movement for Irish independence, a Land Conference was held at Mansion House, Dublin. Endorsed by George Wyndham, this initiative produced a significant measure of reconciliation between the contending parties. It paved the way for Wyndham's Land Bill of 1903, which enabled the gradual transfer of property from landlords to tenants with the help of government subsidies. While generally hailed as a success, this proceeding was odious to hard-line Irish nationalists, who felt that it was unduly favourable to the landlords, whom they believed should have been dispossessed immediately and by compulsion.

A subsequent attempt was made by moderate nationalists, with the involvement of Sir Anthony MacDonnell, to pursue limited devolution of Irish government using the template provided by the Land Conference. This provoked the fury of both the hardline nationalists, who objected to the implied compromise, and of the powerful unionist faction in government, because this time a political separation was threatened rather than just a redistribution of land. This gave rise to the Devolution Crisis of 1904-05, and although the balance of responsibility may reasonably be settled on his subordinate MacDonnell, it was upon Wyndham that the greatest weight of opprobrium fell. Deeply dispirited and wishing to avoid damaging the government that he served, Wyndham resigned on the 12th of March 1905.