An informal discussion of the note of the 10th instant from Mr. Huston, Counsellor of the United States Embassy, took place at the meeting of the Government on the 11th instant. The matter was raised by the Taoiseach, in the absence of the Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Aiken, who was abroad.

In addition to the arrangement referred to in my note of the 11th instant, it was arranged, on the Taoiseach’s suggestion, that a draft reply to Mr. Huston’s note¹ would be prepared by the Department of External Affairs. After the meeting, the Taoiseach instructed Mr. Seán Nunan, Secretary of the Dept. of External Affairs, accordingly. The Taoiseach intimated to Mr. Nunan that the draft should take the following lines:

1. noting the contents of Mr. Huston’s note,
2. repeating an expression of the Government’s recognition of the generosity of the US government hitherto and
3. expressing the hope that the United States Govt. will clearly understand the reasons for our attitude, which should be re-stated.