The Minister and Mrs McGilligan arrived in Rome on the evening of the 17th April. An audience had already been arranged for 12 o'clock on Thursday the 18th and half an hour before that time the Minister, Mrs. McGilligan, Mr. Chilton2 and I went to the Vatican. Cardinal Von Rossum, the Dutch Cardinal who is secretary to the Propaganda, was with the Holy Father when we arrived in the ante-room and he remained with the Pope until 12.45. Meanwhile Cardinal Epicier and Monsignor Boncompagni Ludo-visi (the father of the present Governor of Rome) had arrived and owing to their special functions could have taken precedence of any lay visitor, but they asked the Minister and his wife to go before them. The Minister found the Pope looking exceedingly fatigued after his long talk with Cardinal Von Rossum. He presented the homage of the Irish Government and congratulated the Holy Father on the reestablishment of the Vatican State. The Holy Father expressed his appreciation - asked for news of Ireland, the Government and the President. He then gave to Mrs McGilligan a pair of beads as a souvenir of the audience. When the audience had lasted a few minutes the Minister, following the usual procedure in such cases, introduced Mr. Chilton and myself to the Pope. The audience then ended and we went down to the apartments of the Secretary of State. Cardinal Gasparri had a lunch appointment and the interview had accordingly to be brief. The Minister put shortly before the Secretary of State the reasons for his visit. From the foundation of the Irish Free State it had been the strong desire of the Irish Government to effect an exchange of legations with the Vatican. The affection of the Irish people for the Holy See (of which they had given so many proofs throughout our history) was in itself a sufficient explanation of that desire, but the Government had also felt that the Irish race scattered all over the world wanted some manifest sign that the new Ireland had forgotten none of her old affections. They wished furthermore to give to the Irish people everywhere a new bond of union with the Church by the establishment of official relations with the Holy See. His Eminence would realise that the organisation of the various departments of the Irish Free State had taken some considerable time, but the Government felt particularly happy that they were now in the position to take advantage of the historic movement of the reestablishment of the Vatican as a Sovereign State. They proposed, therefore, to send to the Holy See, with the agrément of His Holiness, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary and they most earnestly hoped to have the good fortune to receive at the same time in Dublin a representative of the Holy Father. The Irish Free State Government had informed Great Britain (their co-partner in the British Commonwealth of Nations) of their intention and the British Government had expressed their great satisfaction that the centuries old friendship existing between Ireland and the Holy See was about to receive official sanction. The Minister added that he would be very grateful to have an early reply from the Holy See. Cardinal Gasparri listened attentively. At the end of the Minister's statement he asked him to repeat in writing what he had just said. A few hours later the aide mémoire, of which a copy is attached,3 was in the Cardinal's hands. He telephoned to the Minister next morning, but not having found him at home, he asked Mr. Chilton to convey a message to him to the effect that a formal note should now be addressed to the Holy Father by the President stating simply that the Irish Free State wished to enter into diplomatic relations with the Holy See. On receipt of this note a favourable reply would be sent at once. The telegram sent to you yesterday evening4 is explained by this request. The note has to follow certain definite forms and it is much simpler to compose it here on the spot.
The Minister has instructed me to remain in Rome to hand in the President's note and to get the reply. I shall send the gist of the reply in code (British ordinary) together with the text of an agreed statement for publication. It is, of course, all important that there should be no publicity until the time agreed upon. The Vatican authorities are particularly sensitive on this matter. Although Cardinal Gasparri said that a favourable reply would be sent immediately on receipt of the President's note, it would be well to wait until the reply comes before allowing ourselves to feel quite sure that the Vatican have no difficulties in making the return appointment at once. Meanwhile, the Minister is convinced that his method of approach without previous consultation with the heads of the Clergy in Ireland has proved to be the best, and he believes that any intimation even at this stage to the Clergy might result in the nullifying of all his efforts. He considers that the correct and wisest procedure is that which he has already discussed with the President, namely, that the President should tell the Archbishop of the fait accompli within twenty-four hours of publication. Every effort is being made to make sure of the return appointment. The Minister does not think it unduly optimistic to hope that the Nuncio's ceremonial arrival could be timed as a grand climax to the Emancipation celebrations. The political effects of such a coincidence would be far-reaching.
The Minister, Mrs McGilligan and myself visited Signor Mussolini at the Palazzo Chigi on Friday at 6.15 by appointment. The Minister conveyed the good wishes of the President and the Government to the Duce. The latter inquired about the Irish Free State and President. At the end of the interview Mrs. McGilligan asked him for a signed photograph of himself. The Duce seemed highly pleased at the request and complied with it at once. He was exceedingly amiable. The visit lasted only a few minutes as the Duce and his officials were busy preparing for the opening of Parliament on the following day. The Duce was wearing a rough riding suit. His table is placed at the far corner of a vast room and the visitor has fully ninety feet to cover before reaching his desk.
At this stage it only remains to be added that the British Minister to the Holy See, Mr. Chilton, has been exceedingly kind and helpful as has been also Mr. Randall, the Secretary to the Legation. They have been ready to come in to the office at any hour for our convenience and to type for us themselves confidential matter. The Chiltons had a special party to meet the Minister and Mrs McGilligan at dinner on Thursday night. The Minister and his wife are giving a dinner to the Chiltons and the Randalls this evening.
