Memorandum for Government by Seán MacBride

The following is a minute of a telephone message received from the British Representative on Monday, 6th instant:

'Lord Rugby telephoned urgently this morning to say that the meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers in London had been fixed for 11th October and would last for about a fortnight with ample intervals for discussions between individuals.

The following will be the representation:

A press notice is to be issued at the end of this week and Lord Rugby is being pressed to ascertain whether Ireland will be represented and, if so, by whom. He said that the meeting had been mentioned to the Taoiseach when he was in London'.

On Tuesday the 7th instant I had an interview with the British Representative, in the course of which he explained that his Government were anxious to know whether we proposed attending the meeting of Commonwealth Ministers, as it was proposed to publish a press communiqué on Saturday the 11th instant in relation to it. I explained that the matter had not been fully considered by the Government and that the Government would require some further information concerning the matters that are likely to be discussed. I explained that whatever reference had been made in London had not been interpreted as a definite invitation by the Taoiseach. The British Representative then handed me from his file, the following agenda:-

1. Agenda for Prime Ministers' Meeting. I have been considering subjects which we might talk over at our meeting and now suggest the following provisional list:
   1. International relations with particular reference to the Soviet Union.
   2. The future of Germany.
   3. Japanese problems and the future of the Pacific.
   4. Commonwealth interest in collaboration with Western Europe.
   5. General economic situation and the European recovery programme.
   6. The development of economic resources of the Commonwealth.
   7. Defence questions.
   8. Machinery for consultation between Commonwealth Governments ....

   If there are any items which you wish added I would be grateful if you would let me know as early as possible.

1. I need not say that apart from the matters on this list I greatly hope that we shall be able to take the opportunity to have less formal gatherings and informal discussions between individuals and it may well be also that there will prove to be advantages in keeping the number of plenary meetings down.
2. I am telegraphing in similar terms to the other Commonwealth Prime Ministers.'

I promised the British Representative that I would try to arrange to have the matter considered immediately by the Cabinet and would try to let him have a decision as soon as possible.