Beschreibung:

[DILLON, James] A collection of 146 interesting letters (handwritten and typed) to James Dillon with his replies, from various correspondents throughout Ireland, England, Germany, Kenya, America and Australia. Several of the letters are congratulating Dillon on his speeches in the D?il. While others refer to the Handing over of the Treaty Ports; Neutrality; the Hugh Lane Pictures; Subscriptions for the ''National Recovery Account''; Hitler, the Nazis and the War; the Spanish Civil War; the American Ambassador on North Korea, etc., etc. Included are letters from Aodh de Blacam, Skeffington Lodge, M.P., Louis Le Brocquy Rev. J.T. Gwynn, Mother Mary Martin etc. An amazing collection covering the Emergency Years. James Matthew Dillon (1902-1986) politician, barrister, and businessman was the son of John Dillon, the last leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, which had been swept away by Sinn F?in in the 1918 general election. He was educated at Mount St Benedict's, in Gorey, County Wexford, University College Galway and King's Inns. He qualified as a barrister and was called to the Bar in 1931. Dillon studied business methods at Selfridge's in London, and after some time at Marshall Fields in Chicago he returned to Ireland where he became manager of the family business known as Monica Duff's in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon where the family had its principal residence. Between 1932 and 1937 Dillon served as TD for Donegal West for the Centre Party and after its merger with Cumann na nGaedheal, the new party Fine Gael. Dillon played a key role in instigating the creation of Fine Gael and would become a key member of the party in later years. He remained as TD for Monaghan from 1937 to 1969. He became deputy leader of Fine Gael under William T. Cosgrave. During the Emergency he urged the government to abandon neutrality and side with the Allies. He was the only TD to do so. In so doing he left his party no option but to expel him. In the first inter-party government (1948-1951) Dillon was appointed Minister for Agriculture as an Independent TD. As Minister, Dillon was responsible for huge improvements in Irish agriculture. Money was spent on land reclamation projects in the areas of less fertile land while the overall quality of Irish agricultural produce increased. Dillon rejoined Fine Gael in 1953. He became Minister for Agriculture again in the second inter-party government (1954-1957). In 1959 James Dillon became the leader of Fine Gael, the party he was expelled from in 1942. He became president of the party in 1960. In 1965 Fine Gael only narrowly lost the election to Se?n Lemass and Fianna F?il. Dillon was a colourful contributor to D?il proceedings and was noted for his high standard of oratory. He retired as party leader having narrowly failed to become Taoiseach in 1965. He was succeeded as leader by Liam Cosgrave. He remained on as a TD until 1969. He then retired from politics completely and died at the age of 83. [DILLON, James] A collection of 146 interesting letters (handwritten and typed) to James Dillon with his replies, from various correspondents throughout Ireland, England, Germany, Kenya, America and Australia. Several of the letters are congratulating Dillon on his speeches in the D?il. While others refer to the Handing over of the Treaty Ports; Neutrality; the Hugh Lane Pictures; Subscriptions for the ''National Recovery Account''; Hitler, the Nazis and the War; the Spanish Civil War; the American Ambassador on North Korea, etc., etc. Included are letters from Aodh de Blacam, Skeffington Lodge, M.P., Louis Le Brocquy Rev. J.T. Gwynn, Mother Mary Martin etc. An amazing collection covering the Emergency Years. James Matthew Dillon (1902-1986) politician, barrister, and businessman was the son of John Dillon, the last leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, which had been swept away by Sinn F?in in the 1918 general election. He was educated at Mount St Benedict's, in Gorey, County Wexford, Universit