Letter from Éamon de Valera to Joseph P. Walshe (Holy See)

A Sheosaimh a chara,
I re-read some of your reports last night and I thought I would send you a short note just to show you that you need not feel isolated.

I hope you are keeping well and that the change of climate has done you good and not harm. There was the usual delay in getting sanction for the purchase of the house. You understand the routine and will not expect rapid action in such cases. The initial capital cost did not worry me much; that can be regarded as an investment. What matters is the danger of increased cost in the upkeep - extra staff, etc. Our Foreign Affairs account can run up very quickly. I know of course the argument 'Losing the ship, etc.', but as we are expanding rapidly we must mind the ha'pence. Now that this matter has been settled I hope everything will go ahead to your liking.

With regard to the question on which you desired instructions: Altho' I know the importance of the considerations you mention in your report, I am convinced that it is essential to have here one who has some natural interest in our country. The call of the blood is strong, whilst a complete foreigner might have no regard at all for our interests and would be inclined to subordinate them in every case. I think your original view, therefore, was the right one. There is also the danger that a stranger might be pulled into the powerful social circles here that are not, to say the least, pro-Irish, and even the Vatican will have a natural tendency to respect the Empires which control so much of the territory over which it has to operate.

Keep firmly then to your original view. The Secretarial staff will be manned from there - that is sufficient to guarantee that the considerations which you have in mind will not be neglected.

I agree with you Ireland has now a great opportunity for doing good and we should endeavour to avail of it. I will speak to some of the Bishops on improving our position in Rome in the way you indicate.

It is a great pleasure to see how energetically you have set to work. Keep it up and do not allow yourself to be discouraged.

You will have seen that we have applied for membership of UNO.
Le gach deagh-ghuidhe
Do chara,
Éamon de Valera