Confidential circular from Frederick H. Boland to all heads of missions
(C.I. Circular 6/47) (Confidential)

In accordance with the resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations last December, steps are being taken to exclude Spain from membership of international organisations which are being brought into relationship with UNO, for example ICAO, Universal Postal Union, International Telecommunications Union. We, of course, are completely opposed to this policy. Our attitude towards the UNO resolution was set out in our circular minute of the 4th January, 1947,¹ viz., that, from the practical point of view, it was dangerous and that, from the point of view of principle, it was unjustified and hypocritical.

We are sending you herewith extracts from the report of the Irish delegation to the recent ICAO Conference dealing, respectively, with (1) the exclusion of Spain from the Organisation, and (2) Ireland's election to the Council.² You will see that, far from causing antagonism in our regard the attitude of the Irish delegation on the Spanish question gained both respect and understanding, and was privately applauded by many of those delegates who were obliged to support the UNO resolution in public. The remarkably high vote which we received in the election for the Council is further proof that we have nothing to lose by taking a firm and unequivocal stand on these questions of principle.