Sir,
With reference to your despatch No. 145 of 9th December, I have the honour to request you to be so good as to inform the Italian Ambassador in London¹ that my Government have learned with much pleasure of the desire of the Italian Government to institute diplomatic relations with Saorstát Éireann, and that the proposal to establish a Legation at Dublin is entirely agreeable to them.

I should be grateful if, at the same time, you would kindly convey my apologies to the Ambassador for the unavoidable delay in replying to his enquiry.