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The curious case of De Valera & The Russian Crown Jewels
SHANNONSIDER**
(8,499 Posts)
Posted:
15-May-2007 17:48
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Has anyone any further information on the curious case of the First Dail's negotiation with the Bolsheviks regarding a loan to a broke communist Russia. Apparently a small part of the huge windfall of money raised in the USA to fight the British and set up an Irish Republic was lent to revolutionary Russia, with part of the Romanov Crown Jewels used as collatoral by the communist Russians. I find it strange that Catholic champion De Valera would allow overtures with Godless Russia, however it seems that is what took place, with part of the negotiations included a guarantee that church interests in Russia would be protected, there is also talk of officer training being part of the deal. I believe Harry Boland was the envoy who brought the cache to Ireland. I have only seen snippets of references to this incident, anyone know where a full account could be sourced.
Apparently the jewels were later found in a Dail office in the 1950s, long forgotten about and were returned to Russia with the outstanding loan being dispatched in return.
jerryp
(1,260 Posts)
Posted:
15-May-2007 18:14
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Was this before or after CJ became a TD ?
SHANNONSIDER**
(8,499 Posts)
Posted:
15-May-2007 18:33
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Charlie sadly came to office before they could be used to decorate Terry Keane, jerryp.
Originally posted by jerryp:
Was this before or after CJ became a TD ?
Fitzy
(5,226 Posts)
Posted:
15-May-2007 23:33
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Jaysus, Harry Boland had his hand in everything. I've never heard anything like this, but when Dev is involved anything's possible.
Are there any good biographies of Harry Boland? He seemed to have been quite the character.
Willie Ursa Major
(569 Posts)
Posted:
16-May-2007 09:13
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Wasn't the only dodgy thing Dev was involved in with all that money raised in the states!
SHANNONSIDER**
(8,499 Posts)
Posted:
16-May-2007 15:30
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There is a comprehensive biography of Boland alright Fitzy called Harry Boland's Irish Revolution, I have read some extracts from it but don't own a copy, I read mostly the hurling parts, he was a fair administrator from what I've read. From memory he was chairman of the Dublin county board and of Faughs CLG at one stage. I didn't know about the Russian Crown Jewels story at the time but must check this in the book.
I suppose there's still no sign of the Irish Crown Jewels? Robbed by a thieving bureaucrat in the castle.
salonika
(1,902 Posts)
Posted:
18-May-2007 14:04
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Originally posted by SHANNONSIDER**:
The curious case of De Valera & The Russian Crown Jewels
Here's some
Strange stuff really. Last thing he said before he died? Very Emmet-esque.
Glinnti Glasa
(2,183 Posts)
Posted:
18-May-2007 14:19
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Originally posted by salonika:
Here's some
Strange stuff really. Last thing he said before he died? Very Emmet-esque.
Harry Boland was a great man,who had too much trust in the long hoor.Great story Sal.
salonika
(1,902 Posts)
Posted:
18-May-2007 14:21
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Originally posted by SHANNONSIDER**:
The curious case of De Valera & The Russian Crown Jewels
Here's some more from the national archives. What a mad site that is. Just been reading about a woman who objected to a court ruling restoring her husbands conjugal rights. She wanted to find out what the new free states position would be w.r.t. divorce.
Anyway, here you go.
Record 7439 from 'Department of the Taoiseach' Description: Newsclipping from the `Irish Press', 19 January 1948', `T.D. Brought The Russian Jewels Here'. The article discusses the jewels which were given as security by a Russian envoy in America in 1920 for a loan advanced by the `Irish Republic'. The jewels were brought to Ireland by Harry Boland who hid them in his mother's house. `Last night, his sister, Mrs Kathleen Boland O'Donovan, told me of the big cluster, which might have been part of a crown, the ear-rings, and the pendant. There are four articles in all. Diamonds with topaz, they are mounted on platinum, with safety locks. When Harry Boland had been shot and was dying, he told his mother and sister to keep the jewels till Mr. de Valera should return to power, then to hand them to him. That was in 1922. At the time the Civil War was raging, and Mr. de Valera was in the country. When he next returned to Dublin, Mrs. O'Donovan told him of her brother's instructions, and it was agreed between them that the Bolands should do as they had been asked. When Mr. de Valera was returned to power in 1932 the jewels were handed to him…'
Date: 19/1/1948
Cabinet: s 14205
File: Russian Jewels deposited as security for loan from Dail Funds, 1920
Type: Newsclipping
Published: Irish Press
Keywords: politics
Record 7440 from 'Department of the Taoiseach' Description: Note by Dr O Nuallain, 11 May 1950, on the Russian jewels which were given as security for a Dail loan. `The circumstances in which the jewels happened, notwithstanding the fact that Michael Collins gave Harry Boland a receipt for them, to come into the possession of the Boland family subsequently are explained by the following incident which was related to Mr. M. Moynihan by Miss Kathleen O'Connell at the time when the affair of the Russian jewels became public during the 1948 General Election campaign as a result of Dr. Patrick McCartan's letter to the Press dated the 13th January 1948; Miss O'Connell was at the time Personal Secretary to the Taoiseach, Mr. de Valera, and had been serving with him in a confidential capacity since 1919'. O Nuallain continues by relaying the story as told to him by Miss O Connell who `relies for her information on the matter partly, if not entirely, on Mr. Gerald Boland, it may, to some extent have been derived from Harry Boland himself, who died during the Civil War on 2nd August, 1922'.
Date: 11/5/1950
Cabinet: s 14205
File: Russian Jewels deposited as security for loan from Dail Funds, 1920
Type: Note
Keywords: politics; civil service
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