At my audience with Cardinal Pacelli on Friday morning, the Cardinal informed me that the appointment of a Legate for the Eucharistic Congress will be made within the next few days. I said that events had proved that there was no danger whatever of any disturbances in Ireland which might affect the Congress, and the Cardinal said that there was not the least fear on the part of the Holy See. I had a long conversation with him on the present situation in Ireland. The Cardinal said that he had read the article in the Osservatore Romano on the question of the oath, and appeared to understand the Irish point of view. The annuities were also mentioned: I did not go into any detail, but mentioned that at a later date the Osservatore Romano might possibly be asked to print a statement of the Irish case.

In the meantime, as soon as any light has been shed on the agreement mentioned by the Minister for the Dominions in his last despatch, I should be obliged for full particulars, as I had never heard of the agreement referred to and am not in a position to answer inquiries on it.