Letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Charlotte Haldane¹ (London)
(Copy)

Dear Madam,
I have been asked by the Taoiseach, Minister for External Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of your letter and enclosure of the 16th November concerning Mr. Frank Ryan. The Taoiseach desires me to inform you that he is aware of Mr. Ryan's imprisonment in Spain. On learning in April last that he had been captured and that his life was in danger, the Taoiseach on behalf of the Irish Government made an urgent appeal to General Franco's Authorities. Since that date this appeal has been constantly renewed through Mr. Kerney, our Minister to Spain, who is in close touch with General Franco's representative in Biarritz. Mr. Kerney is also in touch with the International Red Cross Committee in St. Jean de Luz through which he has been able to send some money, clothes and books to Mr. Ryan on behalf of his family. The latest information received by Mr. Kerney was an assurance from General Franco's representative in Biarritz on the 8th October that Mr. Ryan was alive and was still detained in the Central Prison at Burgos.

For some months past we have been endeavouring to negotiate the exchange of Mr. Ryan for a prisoner in the hands of the Barcelona Government. Although these efforts have not so far met with success they are being continued.