Michael Collins to George Gavan Duffy (Dublin)

Seiorse a Chara,

Ireland and The League Of Nations

With reference to your memo of the 22nd. inst.¹ regarding the above question, I am in entire agreement with the main part of your view as expressed.

I regret that neither time nor circumstance permits me at the present moment to go fully into the matter. I am conscious, however, that owing to the hostility which the whole LEAGUE OF NATIONS QUESTION has caused in certain quarters, it might not be advisable to press our application for Membership.

But I do think that it would be most desirable to have our Claim established. I don't believe the British would object, but, at the same time, I am not so satisfied that from the point of view of other Nations it is the most opportune moment for application. It is a matter I should like to talk over with you. What I would like to see happening is, to have our Claim established, but our Application for Membership itself suspended.