A Chara,
Your letter of the 26th ultimo to Mr. O'Higgins1 was read at to-day's meeting
of the Executive Council, and I was instructed to send you a reply.
(1) IMPERIAL CONFERENCE
(a) Your view on the question of the adoption of resolutions by the Imperial
Conference was agreed to by the Ministry.
(b) We received confidentially from Mr. Loughnane a copy of a draft address
to the King, which they propose to adopt at the termination of the Conference.
This document is of course very confidential, and I gather that it was not the
intention to consult the Members of the Conference individually in its regard.
We have suggested the following alterations to Mr. Loughnane:-
(1) That the opening sentence, which reads 'We the Prime Ministers and
other representatives of the British Empire etc.' should be altered to read
'We the Prime Ministers and other representatives of the British Empire
and Commonwealth of Nations, etc.'
(2) That all references to the Throne should be replaced by references to the
Crown, and
(3) That the phrase 'Many and serious problems which confront the Empire'
should be altered to read 'many and serious problems which confront the
British Commonwealth'.
While we have indicated these changes to Mr. Loughnane we have also
suggested to him that in view of Parliament reopening on the 14th instant, it is
possible that none of our delegates will be present when the address is moved.
The President asked me to mention this matter to you so that, if you consider it
desirable, you could indicate to Mr. King that we had made the suggestion of
introducing the phrase 'British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations' in
future reference to what is now generally known as the 'British Empire'.
(c) The Cabinet noted that you had intended to return on Tuesday, but I have
subsequently been given to understand that your return may be delayed for
another day or two. In connection with this matter we will be glad to know
what are Mr. FitzGerald's intentions with regard to his stay. We presume that
unless there is something of importance to be dealt with at the remaining
meetings of the Conference - which would necessitate his remaining - he would
desire to return with you.
(2) BOUNDARY QUESTION
You will have seen in the Press that certain information regarding the proposed
Conference was allowed to leak out either in Belfast or in London, that the
question of the Boundary Commission was raised yesterday on the adjourn- ment by Mr. Milroy,2 and that the President replied. On yesterday evening,
following Sir James Craig's statement that he had accepted the invitation to
the Conference without conditions, we asked the British Government to agree
to the publication of the documents in this morning's papers. The Duke of
Devonshire replied to the effect that in consultation with the Home Secretary
he had authorised the issue of the official communique, the text of which
appears in this morning's papers, and that he hoped in view of this publication
that we would not insist on the publication of the full text of the correspondence
for a few days. We represented that this action had rendered matters difficult
here and asked whether there was any grave reason, in view of Sir James Craig's
statement, for further withholding publication. We also regretted that we had
not been consulted before the communique was issued by Downing Street. A
reply was received at a late hour last night, in which they said there was no
intention of breaking faith in the matter, that they had drafted the communique
hurriedly, with a view to stopping press misrepresentations, and that they
thought it would be desirable to defer publication of the full correspondence
for a few days.
In view of this and of your early return, and in view also of the fact that our
position was made pretty clear in the President's reply to Mr. Milroy, we thought
it as well not to press for publication until you return. The British have been
informed accordingly, and I send you this information so that you may be
abreast of recent developments.
The Cabinet have considered very carefully the question of urging the
holding of a preliminary meeting at an early date, but in view of the new
'Protection' issue and of the probable developments within the British political
arena, which may be expected to manifest themselves within the next week or
two, they feel that the preliminary Conference would be somewhat in the nature
of a 'Marking Time' business, and might be turned to political use by either of
the opposing parties in Great Britain. For this reason they think it better that
we should not make any definite move in the matter until the situation clarifies
itself somewhat. If there is a probability of a General Election in January, it is
unlikely that the main Conference could usefully be held before then.
REGISTRATION OF THE TREATY AT GENEVA
When Mr. FitzGerald left last week he was to consult you as to whether the
present was a suitable time to move in the matter of the Registration of the
Treaty with the League of Nations. We have not heard whether he has taken
any action in the matter, and perhaps you will ask him to send me a note for
the information of the Ministers here.
