Extract from a semi-official letter from Leopold H. Kerney to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(S.S. 50/19)

Extract from semi-official letter received from Mr. Kerney

'Ryan has been branded as a Communist; the same perverse thinking will try to link up with Communism any persons or bodies pleading his case publicly, and Ryan's enemies in Ireland will gladly avail of any publicity on his behalf to write quietly and privately to their friends in Spain to encourage latter not to let Ryan out of their grasp. What I have felt all along is that if we act quietly, we may be able to steal a march on those bitter Irishmen and Irishwomen who want Ryan to die. Have his friends in Ireland and elsewhere ever stopped to consider how publicity could secure his freedom; Spain is not a democratic country; public opinion does not count; a tearing, raging press campaign in other countries would be simply laughed at by the authorities here, and those who may think otherwise know nothing of present-day Spain. We have been trying to catch Ryan's enemies napping. If others want to spoil that chance, the only chance in my opinion, well I think we can conscientiously say we did our best - short of declaring war on Franco - before they came along and sealed Ryan's fate. I distrust some at least of Ryan's friends, for whom Ryan's death as a martyr would be glorious propaganda. Having given our honest opinion and advice, I would leave it at that; I would not press his friends unduly to abandon their opinion, if they think otherwise, because they would only suspect us of some fell design in keeping things dark.'