File of letters, mainly relating to reaction to Maurice’s resignation as Commissioner for Community Relations. Includes letter from Major-General AH Farrar-Hockley to Maurice Hayes thanking him for the book. ‘I leave with many regrets but not without hope while there are men like you and organisations like yours alive and kicking’ (1 Aug 1971); letter from JM Benn, Commissioner for Complaints, Northern Ireland, to Maurice Hayes acknowledging receipt of his acceptance of appointment as Deputy Director (14 Aug 1972); Letter from Jonathan Power, Convener of the Commission for International Justice and Peace, asking for his thoughts on their proposals to set up a fund among the churches to support various development schemes (10 Oct 1972); Letter from Garret [Fitzgerald] Minister for Foreign Affairs, thanking him for his letter of Congratulations and seeking his views on a proposed Community Relations Fund he is hoping to set up (27 Mar 1973); letter from Jack Lynch to Maurice Hayes thanking him for his comments, saying that he is hopeful given recent events (27 Mar 1973); letter from Declan Costello TD, thanking him for his letter of Congratulations and hoping to meet him at Cambridge (28 Mar 1973); letter from Prod John Jackson, QUB to Maurice Hayes, giving his reaction to the Ministries response on the role of the Community Relations Commission, saying that he would be slightly more optimistic than Maurice, and suggesting that the focus on the Commission could be more on the research and advice function (19 Jan 1972); letter from Kevin Boyle to Maurice Hayes saying that Ron Houghton has rang him from Detroit suggesting that the Carnegie World Peace Organisation might like to get involved in any peace talks that may emerge between the Provisional IRA and the British Government, seeking to set up a group to act as go-betweens, and suggesting Kevin and Maurice be on the group (nd); Correspondence with the Ford Foundation, New York, notifying Maurice of their approval of a travel grant for him to research and study in the USA (October 1972); letter from Eric Gallagher, Belfast Central Mission, the Methodist Church, to Maurice Hayes regretting his decision to resign and understanding why he did so, details his own efforts to get his church and others to initiate dialogue between the Civil Rights Movement and Mr Heath but to no avail (10 Feb 1972); Letter from General Sir John Anderson regretting the circumstances which forced Maurice to resign; letter from GB Newe, Department of the Prime Minister, Northern Ireland, regretting his decision to resign, and noting that Maurice had sought to serve all the people of Northern Ireland, with much sacrifice to himself and his family. He advises not to be drawn into comment or controversy, and hoping that his ‘services are called upon in the better days that must surely lie ahead’ (11 Feb 1972); a wide range of people from military, academic and community backgrounds, as well as work colleagues, write to Maurice regretting the circumstances that forced his to decide to resign.
