Sir, - Eighty-five years ago, on August 3rd, 1916, the humanitarian Roger Casement was executed at Pentonville Jail.
Quite apart from the charge of treason - which he hardly contested - his death was achieved by an underhand campaign of rumour and innuendo. Central to this disposal of arguments for clemency was the use of private papers to cast him as a promiscuous homosexual.
The history of the diaries associated with Casement is a complicated one. Disputes as to their authenticity have raged since the 1930s. Up to 1959, the British authorities would not even confirm their existence.
Since 1994, five documents generally called Casement's "Black Diaries" have been available to the public at the Public Record Office at Kew.
Three seminars have been held during the past four years, the largest at the Royal Irish Academy (May 2000). At these, the importance of clarifying the status of the "Black Diaries" has been a recurring theme. The governments concerned place no obstacles in the way: the age of vacillation and evasion is over.
At my formal request, arrangements are now complete for a comprehensive forensic examination of these documents. A steering group, with English, Irish and Scottish membership, is in place. The technical specifications will be available within the next few days. Forensic scientists and laboratories can obtain a copy of these from the address below, and on that basis may tender for a contract to conduct the various tests. .
Casement is a figure of international significance who made a lasting contribution to human rights in Africa and South America. Those of your general readers who share this interest in Casement are also invited to comment, by post or by e-mail. - Yours, etc.,
Prof Bill McCormack, Chair, Casement Steering Group, Department of English, Goldsmiths College, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW.
(ena01wjm@gold.ac.uk)