Arthur Griffith to Michael Collins
(Copy)

Dublin, 17 December 1920 (received 18 December 1920)

His Grace has been here. Reply of [Dublin] Castle agreeing to terms of truce, but insisting on surrender of Arms.¹

Told him there would or could be no surrender under any circumstances. He believes the reply has come through Greenwood & Co. rather than Lloyd George. He goes to London tonight to see Ll.G and tell him that if surrender of Arms insisted on, all is off.

Secret report handed in at the Castle representing you and others as being unalterably opposed to Truce. This report is obviously concocted by the Die-hards to torpedo the Truce. He has your letter and saw your letter to me, and so can show Ll.G the double game some of his Colleagues and officials are playing.

As to the 'peaceful activities' they will go on. All the Ll.G section want is that they shouldn't go with a flourish of trumpets as I understand.

As to the 'Meeting of representatives of the Irish People'. I insisted that it should be 'the representatives of the Irish people' - meaning ourselves without qualification or proscription.

We shall not agree to any Meeting of the Dail except a full Meeting of all Members - no proscription, and no holding in Jail, but the arrangement of that Meeting will follow the Truce, and the phrase with the word the inserted covers it.