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I was very glad to see that the Taoiseach would leave the matter of the Nuncio to my judgment. I will therefore begin operations in that sense and see how far I can get.

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Our own objection to the visit of Panico was almost unprecedented, though it was the right and only thing to do in the circumstances. It showed them our solidarity with our own people outside Ireland. But we can't afford to let Calwell¹ involve us in Australian intrigues. I hope Kiernan is beginning to lie very doggo on ecclesiastical matters or he will bedevil our future situation amongst a population which we have to convert. If it is true that quite a majority of the Australian-born Irish are on the side of Panico, our work is cut out for us. No doubt, I shall hear a great deal from Father Knox when he returns in a few days time from Australia. I have been singing his praises to Montini so as to get him made Rector of the Propaganda. As you know he is a good Australian, but his heart is entirely in Ireland. If he were Rector there we could do good work amongst the young Australian priests and students … who come to the Propaganda in large numbers.

I still feel very worried about McGilligan's reference to King George and the infamous Latin reply to my credentials. I hope you can give me some line on it soon.

I am sure you have come back from Paris full of information about the international situation. Here the feeling is growing more pessimistic every day and some of the Colleagues have made their plans for a sudden exit by plane should the war suddenly start. What a desperately wrong attitude! But we should take due note of it. It seems to be useless to try and judge Russian reactions by ordinary standards. They may even believe, in their almost religious fervour, that the chaos of a new war, no matter who won, might be the best road to universal bolshevism. Their provocative conduct seems to have no other explanation. As you say, Italy may go communist, and she may be followed by France, but the immediate temptation to rush through the North of Italy and through France to the Atlantic must be terrific, because it is now easily feasible. There are more than enough communists in both countries to prevent serious opposition, and delay might give the allies time to do that propaganda in kind and materials which they ought to have undertaken long ago. And there are many people who say that an ultimate victory over Russia is by no means a certainty. Imagine the outcry in most western countries after a few weeks slaughter of Russian workers and peasants by American atomic bombs!

There are also people who say that the Americans have an exaggerated idea of the value of mere mechanical weapons against a people like the Russians. It would certainly not be wise to take an American victory as a foregone conclusion.

I was very interested in all you had to say about the Dominions Office, the abolition of 'Emperor of India' etc. Incidentally, I see the British hand still in the official news coming from Paris. ÉIRE is used in most cases instead of IRLANDA. It did not originate here because their natural tendency is to use Irlanda, ÉIRE being a bit of a puzzle for them still. The easy passage of the Honorary Consuls and the Cultural relations items is a good sign of the Taoiseach's success in converting the Dáil ... in spite of the incredibly unpatriotic tone of McGilligan's speeches.

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