THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: De Valera’s new game of hide and seek

By Darryl Armitage
Published 21st Dec 2020, 06:00 BST
On this day in 1920 the News Letter reported the whereabouts of Eamon de Valera were a mysteryOn this day in 1920 the News Letter reported the whereabouts of Eamon de Valera were a mystery
On this day in 1920 the News Letter reported the whereabouts of Eamon de Valera were a mystery
From the News Letter, December 21, 1920

“For some reason best known to himself and his associates, de Valera, the Sinn Fein leader, and self-styled ‘President the Irish Republic’, has chosen to disappear from public sight for the time being; but it is clear that his friends are endeavouring to create mystery as his whereabouts for the purpose of cloaking his real designs movements, whatever they may be,” declared the News Letter on this day in 1920.

The News Letter continued: “About week ago he was reported have disappeared from his hotel in New York. Then it was said he was ‘in hiding’ in the country, and this was followed by the assertion of his secretary that he was still in the city. Following this, the story was spread that he was on board the Cunard liner Aquitania, then on the high seas, making her passage from New York to England, via Cherbourg, the French port.