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Volume 5 1936~1939

Doc No.
Date
Subject

No. 235 235 NAI DFA Secretary's Files S94/39

Memorandum, with covering letter from John Leydon to William D. Scott (Belfast), on co-operation with Northern Ireland
(Confidential)

Dublin, 17 October 1938

My dear Scott,
When yourself and Parr1 were here with Jenkins in June2 last you will recall that we visualised the possibility of a further meeting at a later stage.

I now send you herewith a list of items which I think could usefully form the basis of discussion between representatives of the two Governments. If you agree perhaps we might arrange a meeting. Next week or preferably the following week would suit me.

I should be very glad to see you in Dublin again if you could manage to come down. If not I could go to Belfast on whatever day we fix as mutually convenient.

What I have in mind is that we might have a general discussion over the whole field and that if necessary we could thereafter arrange for further discussions under such heads as may be necessary by men who are more familiar with the details.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Jenkins.

Yours sincerely,
[unsigned]

[Enclosure]

Matters for discussion with the GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN IRELAND

  1. Co-operation in the preparation of measures to be taken in the event of a major emergency:

    rationing schemes for petrol, food, etc.;
    regulation of exports of agricultural products;
    desirability of uniformity on both sides of the Border.

  2. The linking up of the electricity system in the two areas. The existing systems could be linked by a high tension line between Belfast and Dundalk3. A new source of supply could be provided by a hydro electric scheme from the development of the Erne; the catchment area is in Northern Ireland and the fall is on this side of the Border so that the generating station would be located in our area. Both sides could take advantage of the available supply of electricity from the scheme.
  3. Drainage of the River Erne; this has been the subject of desultory discussion for many years between the Office of Works in Dublin and the appropriate authorities in Belfast. It has some bearing on the question of a hydro electric scheme.
  4. Transport problems. The difficulties confronting road and rail transport are at present in a large measure common to both areas.
  5. Tourist development.
  6. Reciprocity in Unemployment Insurance.
  7. Reciprocity in the matter of Widows and Orphans Pensions.
  8. Supply of fresh Milk from Donegal to Derry.
  9. Piers and Slips on the Donegal side of Lough Foyle.
  10. Appointment of Medical Officers in Northern Ireland; requirement as to parentage and residence qualification.
  11. Pensions of certain officers dismissed on political grounds by the Belfast Corporation from the Fermanagh County Council: but it is somewhat doubtful whether this point should be raised until progress has been made on the others.
  12. Irish Lights.4

1 G.H.E. Parr, Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Belfast.

2 See documents Nos 195 and 196.

3 The proposed link was established in 1942, following the German bombing of Belfast in April and May 1940; it was intended for emergency use should the Belfast power station be put out of action in an air raid.

4 Handwritten insertion.

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