I am directed by the Minister to state that it has been decided to obtain from our representatives abroad, namely at Paris, Rome, San Sebastian, Berlin and Geneva daily telegrams, starting from the date of their receipt of this minute, concerning the international situation. The purpose of the arrangement will be to place the Government, every day shortly before 1 p.m. Irish time, in possession of a general appreciation of the European situation as seen from the five above-named posts respectively.

In order to save expense and time and to ensure a certain desirable measure of secrecy, your messages may be coded by a single group as shown on the attached sheet¹.

Although the Irish words which are being used as groups to represent twenty-four different messages, contain only four letters each, your wire will consist of a single five letter group. In your case the letter P.R.M.B.G.² should always be added to the beginning of the four-letter Irish word which, when decoded, will provide the best possible description of the day-to-day situation as it appears to you.

Your wires will not require to be numbered and ought to be sent daily, in time to reach Dublin before lunch-hour, without interruption until you receive the telegraphed instruction 'STAD'³ from the Department. In the event of none of the twenty-four messages providing an adequate vehicle for a particular report, you should, of course, resort to the ordinary code, either alone or in conjunction with one group of the 'situation' code. Suggestions for further appropriate 'messages' which might be usefully added to the attached list will be appreciated.