DIFP VIII is now free to access online.

Browse and read DIFP VIII here

Nazi gold, fugitive war criminals, the rebuilding of Europe, the threat of nuclear war and the growing dominance of Communism: these are among the central themes of the eighth volume of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy, the open-access version of which is now available online. Originally published in 2012, it covers the period from end of the Second World War in 1945 to the aftermath of Fianna Fáil's defeat in the 1948 general election. This unique edition of primary source material (drawn from the National Archives of Ireland and UCD Archives) explores how during the immediate post-war years Ireland redefined its global position as a result of wartime neutrality and the developing Cold War. Previously thought to be years of vacuum and general isolation in Ireland's foreign relations, the post-war years saw Ireland engage with a wide range of multilateral organisations, open new diplomatic missions and repair relations with states, in particular the United States and Britain, which had suffered during the Second World War. These were the years of Ireland's return to the international system, as it was forced to grapple with the challenges presented by the aftermath of the Second World War, and the emergence of the Cold War.Nazi gold, fugitive war criminals, the rebuilding of Europe, the threat of nuclear war and the growing dominance of Communism: these are among the central themes of the eighth volume of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy, the open-access version of which is now available online. Originally published in 2012, it covers the period from end of the Second World War in 1945 to the aftermath of Fianna Fáil's defeat in the 1948 general election. This unique edition of primary source material (drawn from the National Archives of Ireland and UCD Archives) explores how during the immediate post-war years Ireland redefined its global position as a result of wartime neutrality and the developing Cold War. Previously thought to be years of vacuum and general isolation in Ireland's foreign relations, the post-war years saw Ireland engage with a wide range of multilateral organisations, open new diplomatic missions and repair relations with states, in particular the United States and Britain, which had suffered during the Second World War. These were the years of Ireland's return to the international system, as it was forced to grapple with the challenges presented by the aftermath of the Second World War, and the emergence of the Cold War.

New volume just published - Documents on Irish Foreign Policy XI (1957-61)

Documents on Irish Foreign Policy Volume XI covers the period 1957 to 1961, will be published in November. It covers the period when Éamon de Valera stepped down as Taoiseach, to be replaced by Seán Lemass. This was at the height of the Cold War, when, despite Ireland's neutrality, the Department of External Affairs (as it was then called) prepared for Ireland actually being involved in a potential third world war (these preparations included plans to arm Irish diplomats in danger zones in case of public unrest). The years from 1957 to 1961 also marked the heyday of Ireland's activism at the United Nations, with Ireland playing a central role on issues ranging from nuclear disarmament to apartheid to the discussion of the admission of Communist China. Significantly, the volume also covers the years in which Irish Defence Forces personnel first participated in peacekeeping missions with the United Nations in Africa and the Middle East. These include proof that the UN approved Conor Cruise O'Brien's taking the organisation to war in Congo's Katanga province and documents on the Niemba Ambush (November 1960), and the fighting at Jadotville and Elisabethville (September 1961).

A constant theme through the volume is Ireland's desire to become involved in European integration, a policy vigorously pursued by Lemass. The volume includes the high-level diplomacy surrounding Ireland first application for membership of the European Economic Community in 1961, with some striking parallels to Brexit - striking in that the parallels with Brexit are clear, except that the question asked is 'What if Ireland is out and Britain is in?' There's mention of a border down the Irish Sea, the status of Northern Ireland, that separate trade agreements between North and South and Ireland and the UK are possible, and that London thought little about Ireland (north and south) in undertaking entry to the EEC.

Alongside such key topics are documents dealing with a wide range of others: the prospect of the deposed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista taking refuge in Ireland, overseas adoptions of Irish children, Irish diplomats' views on the election of John F. Kennedy, the Cold War context of Irish-Soviet (non)-relations, Frank Aiken's distrust of public opinion in foreign policymaking, the Irish embassy in London's views on race relations in Britain, Ireland's first diplomatic moves in Africa, and links between the Defence Forces G2 and MI6 and the CIA.

Using original declassified documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's archive, the volume pieces together, as no other source can, the top-level decision making by Minister for External Affairs Frank Aiken, Taoiseach Seán Lemass and Irish diplomats such as Frederick Boland and Conor Cruise O'Brien that saw Ireland come to play a central role on the world stage.

For further information and queries contact Dr Michael Kennedy, Executive Editor, DIFP at difp@ria.ie

Documents on Irish Foreign Policy is a project of the Royal Irish Academy, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Archives of Ireland and was established in 1997. The project publishes essential source material for anyone interested in the development of Irish foreign policy since 1919.