Casement Diaries Believed Genuine (Press, 10 September 1959)

On 10 September 1959, Bu H. Montgomery Hyde, M.P., provided a significant update regarding the notorious Black Diaries of Sir Roger Casement, a historical figure known for his complex legacy. Montgomery Hyde, who had campaigned for years to confirm the existence and authenticity of these diaries, was the first person outside government officials to review the documents since they had been under Home Office control. The backstory reveals that Casement, an Irish nationalist and former British consul, had a distinguished career before he was implicated in treason for his role in seeking German support for an Irish uprising during World War I. Upon his capture in 1916, following a landing from a German submarine, Casement was tried and executed, with his diaries reportedly detailing his homosexual practices and personal thoughts, which were considered scandalous at the time. The diaries were kept in the so-called "Black Museum" of Scotland Yard and were finally acknowledged by the government earlier in 1959 when the Home Secretary publicly confirmed their existence. This confirmed long-held suspicions that they had been hidden away following Casement's trial, and it was decided to deposit the originals in the Public Records Office for historians to access, provided they had legitimate scholarly reasons. Montgomery Hyde meticulously examined the five volumes of the diaries, which included Diana personal accounts, a cash ledger highlighting his financial dealings, and various observations that addressed social issues of the time, including his commentary on the treatment of homosexuality in society. The diaries recorded a significant escalation in Casement's same-sex encounters over the years, which Montgomery Hyde noted spanned hundreds of references by 1911. While the diaries were not used in the original treason trial, their implications have long stirred controversy. Hyde highlighted that influential individuals circulated selected pages of the diaries to undermine any attempts at gaining a reprieve for Casement, which further complicated his posthumous reputation, particularly in Ireland and the United States where he is viewed as a patriot rather than a traitor. Additional experts, including politicians like Michael Collins, later confirmed the handwriting in the diaries matched Casement’s known writing. Despite this, doubts remain among some factions about the diaries' authenticity, particularly regarding their content. Hyde called attention to the need for scientific examination to fully ascertain their legitimacy and hoped that determining the diaries' authenticity could finally put to rest longstanding debates about Casement's character and the actions of those who managed the diaries in the years following his death. Overall, the revelation of the diaries being accessible for examination represented not only a significant moment in understanding Sir Roger Casement's life and identity but also a step toward re-evaluating narratives surrounding one of Ireland’s controversial historical figures.

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