Well-known in the U.S. where he had been hosted in Communist-sponsored speaking tours in the early 30s, legendary former Irish Republican Army leader would become commander of what is now called ‘Connolly Column,’ with many I.R.A. volunteers, of the International Brigades fighting Franco’s fascists in Spain. This letter written on June 1, 1937 from Madrid where he accepts nomination as candidate in elections back home in Ireland. A veteran of Ireland’s Civil War, Ryan was wounded a number of times fighting in Spain and would be captured by fascists in early 1938, to became a leader of Republican prisoners. Released after the German-Soviet Pact when the Germans sought to utilize the Irish national struggle, many in the Irish national movement, as with the Communist movement, saw the war at that time as fundamentally ‘inter-imperialist’ in which they did not take sides. The French C.P. even directing their cadre not to resist the Nazi invasion of France. While never embracing fascism, Ryan went to Germany with the hope of turning England’s problem to Ireland’s advantage, much as Roger Casement had done in 1916. Any such plans would ultimately be scuttled by the dramatically changed political situation with the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union and Ryan soon fell out with German authorities, but was denied return to Ireland by the De Valera government. Seriously ill after a 1943 stroke, Ryan would ultimately die in a Dresden hospital on June 10, 1944. Despite the accusations of ‘collaboration’ by some, the Left and the Communist movement, as well as Irish Republicans, have always embraced Ryan as a fearless and dedicated fighter. His political ‘moves’ mirrored larger political trends of which he was a part and can only be understood in their context.

‘Irish Republican Leader Is Fighting in Spain; Writes from Front’ from The Daily Worker. Vol. 14 No. 152. June 26, 1927.

Frank Ryan Named Candidate in Coming Irish Election.

Frank Ryan, Irish Republican, who along with the famous Irish labor leader, James Larkin, has just been named a candidate in the general elections of the Dail (parliament), has written a letter from Spain to friends in the United States.

Ryan was nominated while in the trenches near Madrid fighting with the International Brigade against Fascism. He was wounded in the fighting but returned to the front as soon as he recovered. His letter follows:

Madrid,

June 1, 1937

The Volunteers of the Connolly Battalion of the International Brigade ask me to convey to you tonight greetings from the battlefront of Democracy in Spain. Together with liberty-loving comrades from all countries–including revolutionary workers from England–they greet you who are gathered here to help in this the last fight for the liberty of the human race. They thank you for your help and they ask you to redouble your efforts at this decisive stage of the war so that the victory over fascism may be full and final.

Some of our volunteers fight in the ranks of the Lincoln Battalion and are proud to be associated with the revolutionaries of the U.S.A. who have held out the hand of comradeship to their Cuban comrades, just as the revolutionary British workers and we Irish are comrades against the common enemy.

The Irish Battalion is proud too that it has been able to demonstrate to the people of Spain–and to the peoples of the world–that Ireland repudiates the Fascist careerist O’Duffy, and the majority of the Irish people stand for justice in Spain as well as for justice in Ireland. Many of our comrades have proved that in death. They have given their lives on the far-flung battlefronts of Aragon, Cordoba and Madrid. To their memory uplift with us your clenched fists in Salud.

There were pessimists in Ireland who unwittingly helped our enemies when we were first leaving for Spain. They argued that we were denting the Republican struggle. In a few months they have been proved wrong. The revolutionary Republican movement is stronger than it was six months ago because we threw our bodies as battle-gages into Spain. And the wisdom of our action will be evident to all when victory crowns the anti-fascist fight in Spain.

At home in Ireland during my brief stay I found that the greatest need is an organ which will voice the thoughts of the plain people, and organize all anti-imperialist elements into one united Republican movement. North and South. To fill that need we founded the Irish Democrat. I appeal to you to help it. It deserves the support of all lovers of liberty both in Ireland and throughout the world. The cause it fights is that same old cause that has made the name of Ireland great. As a bulwark against world fascism the Democrat should become one of the most important organs of liberal thought.

Returning to my duty in Spain I express my hope that later on I may come and thank you personally on behalf of the Irish Battalion and to work with you in the great cause of the freedom of the human race.

(Signed) FRANK RYAN.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.

PDF of full issue: https://archive.org/download/per_daily-worker_daily-worker_1937-06-26_14_152/per_daily-worker_daily-worker_1937-06-26_14_152.pdf