A Chara,

I am instructed by the Minister for External Affairs to confirm our telegram of to-day's date in reply to your code telegram¹ concerning the construction placed by the Admiralty Experts on Article VI. I am accordingly to inform you that the Executive Council approve your suggestion to propose that the issue should be reserved.

Meanwhile they assume that the discussions will continue until the British have fully informed you of their views as to the extent to which they expect the Saorstát to take over her own defence, but they do not wish to restrict your liberty of action to do what may seem best on the spot.

The Attorney General² wishes me to send the attached copy³ of an old opinion of Hugh Kennedy.⁴ It may help should you wish to argue a connection between VI and VII.