The Wartime Statesmanship of Éamon de Valera / Advice for the Americans After Doolittle’s Raid—1942

 

 

Éamon de Valera                                          Confidential

Taoiseach                                      Ref No: T-EDV-1942-613

Head of Government

Ireland

20 May 1942

Franklin Roosevelt

President of the United States

The White House

Washington

United States of America

Dear President Roosevelt, 

      The war that now exists between the United States of America and the Empire of Japan--brought about by the attack on Pearl Harbour, and by the quasi-warlike embargo which preceded the attack--is likely to go on for countless years and to cost countless lives. There will be a concomitant injury to civilians and civilian property on both sides, as well as substantial consequential injuries to non-belligerents. E . g ., the USSR and Ireland.

      Doolittle's Raid has achieved its military objective. Retribution for Pearl Harbour is now a fact. They have killed your people, and now, you have killed theirs--the numbers are roughly equal. No lasting peace can be, or has ever been, achieved by making exactitudes of retribution a precondition for peace. Thus, national honour must be held to be satisfied. They have rounded up your nationals, and you are putting in motion plans to round up theirs. Any further horrors of war can serve no useful purpose. Is it not now time to consider an alternative to war? Surely you cannot seriously aim at Japan's (much less, the Axis') actual surrender? Japan's armed forces have captured territories all over Asia and the Pacific, and those forces hold those territories by the same warrant under which your nation and the European imperial powers hold and have held such territories there--all far beyond your American and their European homelands. Japan's honour will not permit her to surrender. And even if the people of Japan were willing to do so, any such decision would be blocked by the Japanese militarists who control the same powerful forces that attacked Pearl Harbour. It follows that the only way to achieve such a surrender would be for your armed forces to recapture your lost territories, and then to go on and to conquer Japan's home islands, and, in the process, to destroy Japan's industry, merchant marine, cities, and population. You do not have the ability to achieve these goals, and were you to try to do so--or worse, were you to achieve them--the horrific price would leave your good name and the good name of the United States covered in the blood of millions of innocents.

I urge you to choose peace and to open negotiations with accredited representatives of the Empire of Japan.

On behalf of Douglas Hyde, the President of Ireland, I offer you my own government's good offices towards the pacific mediation, arbitration, and settlement of the war now existing between your nation and the Empire of Japan. I would urge you to respond to my overtures with all the alacrity that this terrible emergency permits, as my loyal opposition, as well as certain public charities, are calling for a boycott against the goods of belligerents and those selling arms to belligerents. In doing this, the opposition might act in concert with partisans of their political persuasion in other neutral jurisdictions. Should it come to this, I trust you will understand that we intend no animus against the People of the United States, and our policy would treat both your nation and the Empire of Japan even-handedly.

Sincerely,

Éamon de Valera

cc:   Lt Gen Yoshitsugu Tatekawa, Ambassador of the Empire of Japan to the USSR

[END]

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘The Wartime Statesmanship of Éamon de Valera’ / ‘Advice for the Americans After Doolittle’s Raid—1942,’ New Reform Club (Sept. 26, 2025, 9:01 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-wartime-statesmanship-of-eamon-de.html>, <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5527098>.

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘The Wartime Statesmanship of Éamon de Valera’ / ‘Advice for the Americans After Doolittle’s Raid—1942,’ Quadrant (Sept. 25, 2025, online) (Australia), <https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/story/the-wartime-statesmanship-of-eamon-de-valera/>, <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5527098>, 69(10) Quadrant 104, Oct. 2, 2025 (hardcopy).

This historical parody is a prequel to my prior historical parody: Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘Advice to the Allies—1945,’ 15(2) Claremont Review of Books 13 (Spring 2015) (United States), <http://ssrn.com/abstract=2478600>, <https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/correspondence2/> (bottom of the page), <https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/author/seth-b-tillman/>.

A Great Turn-Down Letter

Dear Seth,

I appreciate your considering ... as a potential platform for [your submission]. The piece is not quite right for us, but I do understand that much time and effort goes into the literary realization of a creative thought; I earnestly wish you luck in placing it with the right journal.

Though we do not have the resources to provide personal feedback for each submission, what I can illuminate (for the curious) is that—much like those of most journals—our decisions are highly subjective, merely matters of taste and style. Just as one opts for certain books (and not others) from a vast shelf, we choose the works that compel us personally, fully recognizing that others are of equal merit, standing in wait to dazzle another potential reader. After all, diversity in aesthetics is precisely what makes the array of literature beautiful.

To fulfilling successes in your writing life!

Best,

[Editor]

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘A Great Turn-Down Letter,’ New Reform Club (Sept. 22, 2025, 5:13 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-great-turn-down-letter.html>; 

Motifs In East Asian Time Slip Dramas

 

Motifs In East Asian Time Slip Dramas

 

Tyrant-monarch can be recast as a kindly, paternalistic family man;

Conniving eunuch taking bribes or otherwise acting disloyally;

Deep attachments to local geographical features (eg, mountains, rivers, forests) and local foodstuffs, cooking styles, etc;

National honor is asserted by competing against larger neighbour (eg, China), and by making ahistorical claims adopting ones' neighbour's cultural achievements; 

The state is the royal dynasty;

The music shifts from traditional, native music to Western music when the plot reaches its crescendo or something uncommonly good or refined happens;

Women, including high born aristocratic women, should have practical skills to support their family should it go into decline from hardships or catastrophes; 

One should accept the moments of joy as they come, bearing in mind that such good will not last long;

On Politicians’ Commenting on Private Decisions to Fire an Employee: An Irish Example

 

On Politicians’ Commenting on Private Decisions to Fire an Employee

An Irish Example

 

Tillman: “All Myers meant to do was [to] pay a compliment to two successful people who happened to be Jewish. That is not antisemitism. It is not even remotely antisemitism. The ultimate result is that an Irishman [Kevin Myers] is out of a job, and now will be on the dole. And we are all paying for it—because of a Twitter storm that started in England—my G-d!”

Sean O’Rourke: “But … it is not just a Twitter storm in England. You have the Irish Prime Minister (the Taosieach, Mr Varadkar), [and] his deputy [prime minister]—both saying what The Sunday Times did [in firing Myers from his position as a journalist/editorialist] was right. The Chair of the Press Council did not wait for a hearing … he was on the news at 1 [pm] … although he [the Chairman] is not dealing with this complaint [against Myers] I gather ….”

--Extract from: ‘Today with Sean O’Rourke,’ RTÉ Radio 1 (Aug. 3, 2017, 11:40 AM), <https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/21213461/> (at 11:55ff).

I do not remember hearing, in 2017,  any voices in the Irish press, media, government or opposition, or academia suggesting that the intervention of the Irish prime minister and his deputy in a private employment decision was in any way less than praiseworthy. 

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘On Politicians’ Commenting on Private Decisions to Fire an Employee: An Irish Example,’ New Reform Club (Sept. 18, 2025, 9:27 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/09/on-politicians-commenting-on-private.html>; 

On Their Way Out the Door

 

 

          It might surprise you, but the performance of individual civil servants is reviewed from time to time. Some civil servants know that their time is up. They have a good idea that they will be let go in the not too distant future.

          If they are let go, their performance record may be held against them when they seek future employment—public or private. But if the outgoing employee can hijack the process and prompt an early termination in connection with political activism/speech, then their poor performance record will not be front and center when they seek new employment—including government employment. Also, many (albeit not all) civil servants have any number of protections against being fired in connection with speech unrelated to their work and work place. If they are wrongfully fired, they will have a lawsuit against the government and government agency which fired them. Firing them wrongfully is to put the public’s money into their pocket.

          Don’t be manipulated.

         

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘On Their Way Out the Door,’ New Reform Club (Sept. 17, 2025, 7:18 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/09/on-their-way-out-door.html>;

Tillman-Authored and Co-authored Contributions to The Heritage Guide (3d)

 

Josh Blackman & Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 100, ‘The Domestic Emoluments Clause / ART. II, § 1, CL. 7,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 365–70 (Josh Blackman & John Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5466157>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Josh Blackman & Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 91, ‘The Elector Incompatibility Clause / ART. II, § 1, CL. 2,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 317–21 (Josh Blackman & John Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5466075>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Josh Blackman & Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 76, ‘The Foreign Emoluments Clause / ART. I, § 9, CL. 8,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 265–72 (Josh Blackman & John Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5466035>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Josh Blackman & Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 34, ‘Incompatibility Clause / ART. I, § 6, CL. 2,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 111–17 (Josh Blackman & John Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5465974>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Josh Blackman & Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 33, ‘Ineligibility Clause / ART. I, § 6, CL. 2,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 104–10 (Josh Blackman & John Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5465918>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Josh Blackman & Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 98, ‘The Presidential Succession – Congress Clause / ART. II, § 1, CL. 6,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 354–62 (Josh Blackman & John Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5466174>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 38, ‘The Order, Resolution, or Vote (ORV) Clause / ART. I, § 7, CL. 3,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 129–33 (Josh Blackman & John Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=4512365>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 112, ‘The Presidential Convening Clause / ART. II, § 3,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 411–15 (Josh Blackman & John G. Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=4512375>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Seth Barrett Tillman, Essay No. 25, ‘The Quorum Clause / ART. I, § 5, CL. 1,’ in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution 75–80 (Josh Blackman & John G. Malcolm eds., 3d ed. 2025), <https://ssrn.com/abstract=4512557>, <https://tinyurl.com/5zwfwm3j>.

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘Tillman-Authored and Co-authored Contributions to The Heritage Guide (3d),’ New Reform Club (Sept. 15, 2025, 4:05 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/09/tillman-authored-and-co-authored.html>;

On Reconciliation

 

 

It is said that at the negotiations at Appomattox Courthouse Lee and Grant were both frank and civil during the course of discussing the surrender of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Afterwards, Grant sent food to Lee to feed his (and, then, their) nation’s former enemy soldiers. Celebrations for Grant’s soldiers came only later not while Lee’s soldiers remained present. Again, in ending active hostilities, the first step towards national reconciliation was frank and civil discourse.

I do not think our present and future is or will be as difficult as was Grant and Lee’s. But we too have to think about national reconciliation. It seems to me that the first steps in that direction involve frank and civil discussion, absent hyperbole, and absent name calling. If federal judges, state judges, and legal academics are not up to that task, then that is just another institutional and cultural problem crying out for reform and renewal.

Likewise, our domestic law schools are supported by taxes, tuition, and donations. If universities and academics only further burden American society by casting aside our free speech traditions and actively engage in just another front in our culture wars, then wider society might very well choose to withhold support. Perhaps this process has already begun?

---

An extract from the conclusion of: Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘Some Personal Reflections on the Recent Litigation involving Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment,’ 94(6) Miss. L.J. 1375, 1401–1402 (May 2025) (footnotes omitted), <http://ssrn.com/abstract=5241140>, <https://mississippilawjournal.org/journal-content/some-personal-reflections-on-the-recent-litigation-involving-section-three-of-the-fourteenth-amendment/>; 

The passage above was written prior to May 2025.

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘On Reconciliation,’ New Reform Club (Sept. 13, 2025, 4:35 PM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/09/on-reconciliation.html>; 

The Irish Flag War

 

It appears that more than a few of the best people now believe that the wrong sort of Irish people are putting up Irish flags in Ireland, and that this is being done as anti-migrant “hate speech” directed against fragile foreigners. As night follows day, there will soon be an investigation led by the Gardaí (the Irish police) and then debated by the Dublin City Council. And eventually, a proposal will be made to make it illegal for Irish people to put up Irish flags in Ireland. It is possible that such a proposal might be enacted, and it is also possible, perhaps likely, that such a policy will be upheld by the Irish courts. 

Let me suggest an alternative policy.

Instead of banning unwelcomed speech from the “unwanted”[1]—engage in speech of your own and win a battle in the market place of ideas and political ideals. Instead of ceding your national symbol, your flag, to alleged extremists, reclaim your symbol and hold that torch high.[2]

More specifically, this is what I propose: In front of the main entrance of every government building, public park and playground, erect an Irish flag.

At every major street corner, place an Irish flag.

And most importantly, in every class room, that is, in every government funded classroom—including classrooms within primary, secondary, and (especially) third-tier educational institutions—set up an Irish flag.

This way if some rowdies or street thugs carry an Irish flag, no one will even notice. And, more importantly, you will, at last, refrain from the long-standing policy of ceding the symbol of your national identity to those who might misuse it. In fact, I put this policy forward as much for foreigners in Ireland as I do for the Irish and Irish nationals. In order to help foreigners integrate into the national narrative and culture, there must be an identifiable national narrative and culture for them to integrate into. A land without flags will be experienced, by many, as an unwelcoming and “cold house.”[3] I will go even further, when foreigners apply for and take up legal residence in Ireland, the Irish state should give them their one-hundred thousand and first welcome:[4] an Irish flag to put on their home’s front door. What could be more welcoming than that?

And should all this come to pass, and work out as well as one could hope, “this nation”[5] “once again”[6] might even hold annual (July-4th-like or Brexit-like) independence day parades, with drums, and fifes, and the Irish tricolour.

There is just no good reason to ban other people’s speech.

Seth Barrett Tillman, Associate Professor. Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology, Ireland. Scoil an Dlí agus na Coireolaíochta Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. (Academic title and affiliation are listed for identification purposes only.)

---

[1] Address to the West Midlands Area Conservative Political Centre (Birmingham, England: Midland Hotel, Apr. 20, 1968). 

[2] John McCrae, In Flanders Fields (2015) (“The torch; be yours to hold it high.”); see also Seth Barrett Tillman, What has Happened to Canada’s Greatest Poem?, The Dorchester Review (Aug. 20, 2025, online) (forth. Oct. 2025, in print) (Canada), <https://tinyurl.com/4tsbe44s>, <https://ssrn.com/abstract=5390767>.

[3] David Trimble, Ulster Unionist Party, Nobel Prize Lecture (1998) (“Ulster Unionists, fearful of being isolated on the island, built a solid house, but it was a cold house for [C]atholics.”).

[4] “Céad míle fáilte”—Irish/Gaelic for “one-hundred thousand welcomes,” and the phrase is sometimes intended to be descriptive of Ireland generally.

[5] Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address (1863) (affirming “that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom ….” or “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ….”).

[6] Thomas Osborne Davis, A Nation Once Again (1844); see also The Wolfe Tones, A Nation Once Again (2002) (voted #1 song in a BBC World Service poll).

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘The Irish Flag War,’ New Reform Club (Sept. 5, 2025), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-irish-flag-war.html>; 

See generally Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘The Irish Flag War,’ The Galway Review (Sept. 7, 2025, online), <https://thegalwayreview.com/2025/09/07/seth-barrett-tillman-the-irish-flag-war/> (Ireland).

Seth Barrett Tillman, Letter to the Editor, ‘We should recapture the flag for honourable use,’ Irish Mail on Sunday (Sept. 7, 2025), <https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-irish-mail-on-sunday/20250907/textview>. 

See generally Seth Barrett Tillman, Letter to the Editor, ‘State-sponsored flags for all,’ Irish Examiner (Sept. 5, 2025, 1:00 AM) 8, <https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/yourview/arid-41699765.html>.