Volume 1

No. 11

Sean T O Ceallaigh (Paris) to Eamon de Valera (Dublin)

Sean T O'Ceallaigh to Dublin
24/05/1919

A Chara:Your two letters dated 19-v-19 per Mr. Lee were delivered here Wednesday night. As regards (a): This I had handed in at the Foreign Office, Quai d'Orsay, on Thursday, 22nd inst., addressed as directed to M. Clemenceau. I had copies made and sent to the French, American and English Pr... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 142

Erskine Childers (Dublin) to ()

Memorandum by Erskine Childers on Irish defence as affected by the British proposals of 20 July 1921

DEFENCE. The conditions affecting Defence laid down in the British Proposals of July 20th 1921 are as follows:- The common concern of Great Britain and Ireland in the defence of their interests by land and sea shall be mutually recognised. Great Britain lives by sea-borne food; her commun... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 218

Eamon de Valera (Dublin) to Dail Eireann (Dublin)

Proposed Treaty of Association between Ireland and the British Commonwealth presented by Eamon de Valera to Dail Eireann

In order to bring to an end the long and ruinous conflict between Great Britain and Ireland by a sure and lasting peace honourable to both nations, it is agreed STATUS OF IRELAND 1. That the legislative, executive, and judicial authority of Ireland shall be derived solely from the peopl... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 108

Stephen M. O'Mara (Washington) to Charles Evan Hughes (Washington)

Stephen O'Mara to Charles Evans Hughes
09/09/1921

Sir: It will not have escaped your attention that negotiations have been proceeding between the Government of Great Britain and Dail Eireann with a view to restoring peace between England and Ireland; that up to the present the positions of the two Governments have been presented through the m... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 172

Erskine Childers (London) to British delegation (London)

Memorandum by Erskine Childers replying to the British proposals of 18 October 1921
20/10/1921

THE BRITISH MEMORANDUM ON DOMINION STATUS.A CRITICISM. The Irish representatives have received and read with interest the Memorandum on Dominion Status prepared by Mr. Lionel Curtis at the request of the British Prime Minister. As a document expressly put forward by the British representa... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 190

Erskine Childers (London) to ()

Extracts from a memorandum by Erskine Childers on defence issues
07/11/1921

DEFENCE.This Memo is an endeavour to focus the Defence questions and place them in perspective in relation to the general scheme. I adhere to the opinion expressed in my original Memo circulated to the Delegates on arrival in London that the Defence provisions will in practice be the p... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 210

Irish Delegation (Dublin) to ()

Amendments by the Irish Representatives to the proposed Articles of Agreement
04/12/1921

1. The Legislative, executive and judicial authority of Ireland shall be derived exclusively from the Elected Representatives of the Irish people. 2. Ireland will agree to be associated with the British Commonwealth for all purposes of common concern, including defence, peace and war... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 214

British & Irish Delegations (London) to ()

Final text of the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland as signed.
06/12/1921

1. Ireland shall have the same constitutional status in the Community of Nations known as the British Empire as the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa with a Parliament having powers to make laws for the peace, order an... View the full document

Volume 1

No. 217

Eamon de Valera (Dublin) to Secret Session of the Dail (Dublin)

Proposed Alternative Treaty of Association between Ireland and the British Commonwealth presented by Mr Eamon de Valera to a Secret Session of Dáil Éireann on 14 December 1921
13/12/1921

In order to bring to an end the long and ruinous conflict between Great Britain and Ireland by a sure and lasting peace honourable to both nations, it is agreed 1. That the legislative, executive, and judicial authority of Ireland shall be derived solely from the people of Ireland. ... View the full document

Volume 2

No. 41

Kevin O'Sheil (Dublin) to all members of the Executive Council (Dublin)

Memorandum, O'Shiel to all members of the Executive Council
19/02/1923

A Chara, CUSTOMS ON THE IRISH-BRITISH LAND FRONTIER 1. I send you herewith for your special attention a Memo. prepared at my request by our Economic Adviser, Mr. Joseph Johnston, F.T.C.D. with regard to the forthcoming exercise of our fiscal sovereignty. This Memo. contains suggestions... View the full document

Volume 2

No. 138

Eoin MacNeill (Dublin) to ()

Report by MacNeill
04/10/1923

[Matter omitted] Almost throughout the month, the Italo-Greek crises dominated the minds of the Assembly, though it was little discussed in the formal proceedings. At the outset, the Council came to the conclusion that it would not be practicable to deal with this affair through the ... View the full document

Volume 2

No. 274

Kevin O'Higgins (Dublin) to Each member of the Executive Councilby with covering by O'Higgins ()

Memorandum, Kevin O'Higgins to each member of the Executive Council, with covering letter by O'Higgins
29/09/1924

To each member of the Executive Council. The memorandum which is circulated herewith is an elaboration of the one which I have previously circulated on the 25th instant on the question of the advisability of making some public offer to the North if the Bill providing for the final constitu... View the full document

Volume 2

No. 333

by Dept of the President (Dublin) to ()

Memorandum by Dept of the President
28/10/1925

DEFENCE POLICY A chara, With reference to the Secret document of the 22nd July last The memo purports to be a statement of the Government's Defence Policy, and is intended, if approved, for transmission to the Department of Defence for the guidance of the Army Authorit... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 3

Peadar MacMahon (Dublin) to Peadar Hughes (Dublin)

Coastal Defence
31/03/1926

MEMORANDUM ON THE POSITION IN REGARD TO THE COASTAL DEFENCE OF IRELAND CREATED BY ARTICLE 6 OF THE TREATY OF 1921 [matter omitted] 5. THE PROBLEM OF THE MOMENT AND THE FIRST STEPS WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN Land Defences           ... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 19

Peadar MacMahon (Dublin) to Peadar Hughes (Dublin)

Coastal Defence
07/06/1926

COAST DEFENCE (SEA) [matter omitted] Location of present balance of Naval power 6. One of the most important features needing attention in the consideration of the Coast Defence and Naval position of Ireland is the transfer of the balance of Naval power in Europe from the North Sea to the At... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 44

Department of Defence (Dublin) to ()

1926 Imperial Conference
28/09/1926

NOTE ON ATTACHED MEMORANDUM This Memorandum should be considered in conjunction with that on 'Defence Policy' submitted by the Defence Council to the Executive Council in 1925, While adhering to the policy of 'Independence in the Defence of Ireland,' as suggested in the Memorandum of July, 19... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 81

Minutes of Defence Conference (London) to ()

Irish Free State Coastal Defence
26/04/1927

Informal Conference at Admiralty on 26th April, 1927, to consider Technical and Financial aspects of Coast Defence. I.      Present on behalf of British Government:-    Rear Admiral A.D.P.R. Pound, C.B.  Assistant Chief of ... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 241

John J. Hearne (Dublin) to ()

Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation
15/07/1929

Secretary, A preliminary examination of the Preparatory Memoranda circulated by the Dominions Office containing a survey of existing legislation 'affecting the Dominions' passed by the Parliament at Westminster will disclose how effectively that Parliament ruled and controlled the old British ... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 271

() to ()

Extracts from a memorandum, with covering notes, by the Department of Defence on the Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation
01/10/1929

Notes on attached memorandum 1. This Memorandum shall be read in conjunction with R.M. 66 'Imperial Conference 1926' 'Policy on Defence and Cognate Questions'. 2. Owing to the absence of a detailed policy on the major issues of which the subjects dealt with in this paper are only a feature, i... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 347

Timothy A. Smiddy (London) to J.P. Walshe (Dublin)

Conversation with Lord Passfield
28/02/1930

I attended a dinner given last night by 'Canada Club' in honour of Colonel the Hon. J.L. Ralston,1 Minister of National Defence, Canada. H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught was in the Chair. Colonel Ralston, in replying to the toast given in his honour, made an impressive, interesting and inform... View the full document

Volume 3

No. 618

Memorandum (Dublin) to ()

General Disarmament Conference
15/12/1931

1. The Disarmament Conference will be the most important since the Conference of Versailles. Every State in the world, whether Member or non-Member of the League, is likely to be represented at it. 2. The proceedings of the Conference will not be confined merely to fixing the levels of nationa... View the full document

Volume 4

No. 26

Eamon de Valera (Dublin) to J.H. Thomas (London)

Oath of Allegiance
05/04/1932

Sir, The Government of the Irish Free State has had under consideration the views of the British Government communicated to me in your despatch No. 69 of the 23rd March. 2. Whether the Oath was or was not 'an integral part of the Treaty made ten years ago' is not now the issue. The real is... View the full document

Volume 4

No. 286

Anthony Eden (Geneva) to Joseph P. Walshe (Geneva)

Meeting with Walshe
15/10/1935

On the occasion of a chance meeting here with Mr. Walshe, he remarked to me that I had seemed to have bad luck in my meetings with Mr. de Valera, since I had been unable to go out, owing to a heavy cold, the night when I was dining with him, and Mr. de Valera himself had had to go to Lausanne ... View the full document

Volume 4

No. 383

Sir Harry Batterbee (London) to ()

Talks in Dublin on Abdication Crisis
29/11/1936

Co-operation in defence and the handing back of the Treaty ports.[...]

Volume 5

No. 70

John W. Dulanty (London) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

Activities at Treaty ports
26/07/1937

£1,200 [copy letter unsigned] High Commissioner Activities at Treaty ports From John W.[...]

Volume 5

No. 86

Eamon de Valera (Geneva) to ()

Informal conversations with MacDonald
15/09/1937

He wished to take up at the moment the three or four problems - the financial dispute, the Treaty ports and defence, trade and partition.[...]

Volume 5

No. 88

Eamon de Valera (Geneva) to ()

Informal conversations with MacDonald
17/09/1937

The discussion ranged over the new Constitution, the External Relations Act, Partition, the Treaty ports and Defence, Financial dispute and Trade.[...]

Volume 5

No. 117

Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin) to Eamon de Valera (Dublin)

British-Irish relations / Constitution
03/01/1938

AN TAOISEACH On reaching London by plane on Monday, the 27th December, I immediately got into touch with the High Commissioner and explained to him the extreme necessity of getting immediate information as to the contents of the Note which the British were to hand to us on the 29th (Co... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 122

Minutes of British-Irish Conference, 1st Meeting (London) to ()

British-Irish Conference
17/01/1938

As things were, he was prepared to repeat (what he had already said in public) that the Irish people were prepared to take over the Treaty ports and, having done so, would organise themselves to prevent the ports from being used as bases of attack by any foreign pow... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 124

Minutes of British-Irish Conference, 2nd Meeting (London) to ()

British-Irish Conference
18/01/1938

CONFERENCE between REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ÉIRE Secretary's Notes of the Second Meeting of the Conference held at 10 Downing Street, on Tuesday, 18th January, 1938, at 12 Noon PRESENT UNITED KINGDOM ÉIRE The R... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 125

Minutes of British-Irish Conference, 3rd meeting (London) to ()

British-Irish Conference
18/01/1938

THE HOME SECRETARY enquired whether any estimate had been formed of how much the Treaty ports would cost Éire to re-equip and maintain.[...]

Volume 5

No. 127

Minutes of British-Irish Conference, 4th meeting (London) to ()

British-Irish Conference
19/01/1938

At present the garrison in the three Treaty ports consisted of nearly 600 men of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers and an additional 50 or 60 would be required to bring the forces up to fighting establishments.[...]

Volume 5

No. 135

James J. McElligott (London) to Seán MacEntee (Dublin)

Discussions with British Treasury officials
25/01/1938

My dear Minister, I enclose herewith draft of a memorandum 2. I can see no ground for further attack with a view to reducing the £12 millions unless we introduce some argument about the 'Disbandment' element of the R.I.C. You will recollect that you were committing to paper certa... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 140

Joseph P. Walshe (London) to Eamon de Valera (Dublin)

Report from London
08/02/1938

Dear President, I haven't sent a report for some time. One day is more or less a repetition of another and I am simply keeping up the pressure on Harding and Batterbee. There are however some things which deserve particular mention. Last Thursday I saw, with Batterbee, three military... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 142

Seán MacEntee (Dublin) to Eamon de Valera (Dublin)

British-Irish negotiations
17/02/1938

Dear Taoiseach, In view of the recent Cabinet discussions I feel bound to set out without reserve my personal position for your consideration. The net issue which has now emerged may be stated as follows: Provided the British Government is prepared To abrogate Articles 6 and 7 of ... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 143

Minutes of British-Irish Conference (London) to ()

British-Irish Conference
23/02/1938

The suggestion now was that this country should hand over the Treaty ports without securing the rest of the draft Defence Agreement.[...]

Volume 5

No. 145

Minutes of British-Irish Conference (London) to ()

British-Irish Conference
03/03/1938

DE VALERA said that the position about the Treaty ports might be defined as follows.[...]

Volume 5

No. 175

Text of British-Agreements () to ()

British-Irish tripartite agreement on trade, finance and defence
25/04/1938

ÉIRE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Signed at London, 25th April, 1938 PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS BY THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS The Government of Éire and the Government of the United Kingd... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 184

Peadar MacMahon (Dublin) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

Transfer of Treaty Ports
18/05/1938

[signed] PEADAR MACMAHON Rúnaidhe Transfer of Treaty ports From Peadar MacMahon - Dublin To Joseph P.[...]

Volume 5

No. 186

John W. Dulanty (London) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

Meeting with British military officials / Transfer of Treaty ports
21/05/1938

DULANTY High Commissioner Meeting with British military officials / Transfer of Treaty ports From John W.[...]

Volume 5

No. 188

Sheila Murphy (Dublin) to ()

Phone message from Séan Murphy / Transfer of Treaty ports
26/05/1938

Phone message from Mr. Murphy 26.5.38 (Replies as indicated given to him by Mr. Hearne on 27.5.38) Generally speaking, the meeting yesterday was quite satisfactory. The other side are quite ready to give us all the information which we asked for. There will be another meeting on Friday f... View the full document

Volume 5

No. 192

John W. Dulanty (London) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

Transfer of Treaty ports
01/06/1938

Transfer of Treaty ports From John W.[...]

Volume 5

No. 194

Michael Beary (Dublin) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

Transfer of Treaty ports
03/06/1938

BEARY Leas Rúnaidhe Transfer of Treaty ports From Michael Beary - Dublin To Joseph P.[...]

Volume 5

No. 207

Seán Murphy (London) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

Transfer of Treaty ports
02/08/1938

Transfer of Treaty ports From Seán Murphy - London To Joseph P.[...]

Volume 5

No. 225

Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin) to Seán T. O Ceallaigh (Dublin)

Return of the Treaty ports
27/09/1938

Return of the Treaty ports From Joseph P.[...]

Volume 6

No. 15

Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin) to ()

Memorandum by Walshe

I arrived in London on Thursday morning, the 7th September. I went to the Dominions Office with the High Commissioner about 10.30 to see the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. Mr. Eden was in his usual cheerful form, and when I told him you had sent me over to have a very frank talk with... View the full document

Volume 6

No. 40

Michael Rynne (Dublin) to ()

Memorandum by Rynne
01/09/1939

NEUTRALITY Essentials of Neutrality The essentials of neutrality are:- (a) An impartial attitude towards belligerents on both sides of the conflict. (b) Acquiescence in this attitude by both belligerents. (c) Ability to take such action as may be necessary to defend n... View the full document

Volume 6

No. 98

John Hearne (Ottawa) to Oscar Skelton (Ottawa)

Aide mémoire, Hearne to Skelton
22/12/1939

There has been no question of the British Forces occupying the 'Treaty ports'.[...]

Volume 6

No. 125

Michael Rynne (Dublin) to Michael Rynne (Dublin)

Memorandum by Rynne
07/02/1940

It is submitted therefore, that the reasons why Ireland was allowed to become tenant-at-will of the Treaty ports were as follows: (a) the Treaty of 1921 had been all but repudiated by the Fianna Fáil Government.[...]

Volume 7

No. 46

Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin) to ()

Memorandum by Walshe
22/04/1941

Besides the American Minister, Mr. David Gray; Mr. Biddle, Towards the end of dinner, Mr. Gray asked Mr. Campbell to tell us about himself. Mr. Campbell stood up and spoke generally as follows. He was a close personal friend of President Roosevelt, not perhaps so close as Harry Hopkins... View the full document