I spoke to the Taoiseach about the suggested visit of Field-Marshal Montgomery.¹ His view, as I anticipated, is that the kind of visit that Lord Montgomery seems to have in mind - an invitation by the Government here and official contacts between himself and our Chief of Staff - would be inopportune in present circumstances. It would fan up false rumours of the secret defence agreement between ourselves and the British, and disloyal elements here would exploit the occasion for their own purposes.

There would not be anything like the same objections if Lord Montgomery came over here on his own initiative and, when passing through Dublin, called on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence. I think the Taoiseach would be glad to see him. Even then, however, I think there would be a number of 'dos' and 'don'ts' to suggest to Montgomery before he came.