Letter from Frederick H. Boland to Joseph P. Walshe (Holy See)
(205/18)

You may like to see this copy of a recent circular sent to the missions abroad for their information.¹

No doubt, something about Partition was sent out by the Foreign Office to the British representatives abroad, but what it was we have no idea. There is no evidence that British propaganda in foreign countries is in any way active about the issue, although the Six County people themselves seem to be doing a certain amount of publicity work and some of it is of very good quality.

You may have seen that 200 MPs have put down a motion to refuse a second reading to the Six County Bill now before the British Parliament. We have nothing against the Bill itself; in fact, we would be sorry if it were rejected because the Six County people need it to implement an agreement with the ESB² about the Erne development scheme. Actually, there is no fear of the Bill not being passed because the 200 signatories to the motion have said that they don't intend to press their opposition to a vote. Their only object is to use the occasion to draw attention to the undemocratic character of the Stormont régime - its gerrymandering, the residence permit system, and so on. On that basis, the demonstration is all to the good and the number supporting it - nearly a third of the membership of the House - is impressive. What is slightly disturbing is to find among the company all the well-known cryptos and fellow-travellers such as Zilliacus,³ Silverman,⁴ Crossman,⁵ Piratin⁶ and, of course, Mr. Gallagher⁷ himself!