Memorandum by Joseph P. Walshe regarding a visit
from the French Minister to Ireland Xavier de Laforcade

M. Laforcade, the French Minister, came to see me today, and, after some talk about other things, including war criminals, asked me what our position would be if Marshal Pétain arrived in Ireland.

I asked him if he were putting me that question officially, and he said at once that it was just personal and friendly curiosity.

In that case, I said – and I warned him that my reply was personal and unofficial – I thought we should welcome Marshal Pétain as a distinguished soldier. In any case, I added, I did not believe that Marshal Pétain would be considered a criminal by the French people or that he would attempt to seek refuge outside his own country.

M. Laforcade replied that it was quite possible that Marshal Pétain might seek refuge outside France, and he was pretty sure that he would be regarded as a war criminal. He implied that our attitude in regard to a request from the French Government about harbouring the Marshal might determine the attitude of the French Government in regard to the recognition of our present Minister in France.

I suggested that, as he had no official instructions whatever, it would be better to avoid drawing disagreeable conclusions.

I mentioned this conversation to Sir J. Maffey today and he assured me that if we received Marshal Pétain we should have the full support of the B. Govt.