Dear McDunphy,¹

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The position with regard to McGilligan's return is not clear but I should say he will certainly be back by the end of this week unless something quite unforeseen takes place. When he was over in Dublin the week-end before last we were pretty satisfied that things were drawing to a satisfactory close. Immediately on his return however the situation took a change for the worse as a result of which the delegation have had a very strenuous week. At the present moment things look good again, and if they work out as we anticipate we should finish about Friday. We shall probably know better tomorrow but in these matters prophecy is futile. The Conference answers pretty closely to the President's well-known definition of the Senate. We anticipate that the final struggle in plenary committee will begin tomorrow or Wednesday and, of course, it is essential for the Minister to be here for these meetings.

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