Advice to the Allies — 1945

Abstract

This Article is a critique or parody of the normative basis of modern public international law.

Dear Editor:

It appears that the following confidential communication was sent by the Irish head of government, Éamon De Valera, to the heads of government of the major Allied Powers about five weeks prior to the end of hostilities in Europe in 1945. I have no doubt that this document will be of considerable interest to diplomats, historians, and the public.

Several weeks after De Valera sent the letter below, he visited the German envoy to Ireland, Dr Hempel, to express condolences in the wake of Hitler’s death (by suicide). De Valera was widely excoriated for his conduct. But as the correspondence below shows, it was not so much that De Valera was wrong; rather, he just outpaced later, yet-to-emerge modern developments in public international law.

Sincerely,

Seth Barrett Tillman Lecturer, Department of Law National University of Ireland Maynooth