Diarmuid O'Hegarty to Eamon de Valera (New York)

That Consuls and Diplomatic Agents be appointed by Dail to the following Countries, viz., Russia, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and that four Diplomatic Agents be appointed for the cities of Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Boston to act as organising directors of Irish opinion in these areas. That these Agents should be directed from Washington to ensure constant communication, and that they should submit weekly reports in triplicate to Washington, one copy of which would be forwarded to the Dail Ministry. That the Dail should choose thirty names from which the President might select these Agents as occasion arose, and that their salary be about $100 per week.

The Ministry are in accord with this proposal, which they will recommend to the Dail at an early date. They will request the Dail to select thirty persons from amongst whom you would appoint the Agents as required, and they will ask that the necessary allocation for the purpose be made. They agree that for the present these Agents should be directed from Washington, but it may be subsequently found desirable to transfer the seat of direction either to Ireland or to the Continent of Europe.

That a Delegation should be despatched to Russia immediately to seek formal recognition of the Government of the Irish Republic, and that Mr. Thomas Johnston should be included in the Mission.

The Ministry agree with the proposal to send a Delegation to Russia without delay, but they consider that some time would necessarily elapse between the arrival of the Delegation and the presentation of the formal demand for Recognition. They understand from Mr. Boland that you will likely present a formal demand for recognition to the President of the United States in the early Autumn, and they are of opinion that this demand should be made before similar demands are made in other Countries, and that, when the proper moment arrives for the presentation of the formal demand in other countries, it should, as far as possible, be simultaneous. They feel that a demand for recognition made to Russia prior to a similar demand being made in any other country might be availed of by British Propagandists to misrepresent the Government of Ireland, and might militate against the success of such demands in other countries. This argument does not, of course, affect the desirability of having the Delegation to Russia despatched at the earliest possible moment, and the Ministry will recommend this proposal to the Dail for favourable consideration.

That a Director of Propaganda be sent to the United States to supply material for the Agents referred to in paragraph (1), and that the services of Mr. R. O'Brennan be made available for the purpose.

The Ministry understand that this proposal was made principally because it was the opinion in the United States that communications between Ireland and other Countries were much more restricted than they really are. The Ministry think that their propaganda could, for the present, be more efficiently carried on from Dublin, as far as the Continent of Europe is concerned, but they do not exclude the possibility of its being considered desirable, with the development of their Propaganda Department, to send a man to the United States in connection with this work. They understand that propaganda requirements in the United States and in South America and Australia are being satisfactorily catered for from the United States.

While on this subject, the Ministry would be glad if you would consider making a proposition to Mr. Hearst that he should establish an Office in Dublin of equal status with his London Office which would collect and distribute news from Ireland. This, in their opinion, would be a great advantage, as accurate versions of occurrences could thus be speedily and reliably transmitted, and the present Castle control of news messages thereby discounted.

The envoy having explained the details of this proposal the Ministry will recommend to the Dail to give you discretionary powers in regard to the expenditure of the sum mentioned.

The Ministry are in thorough agreement with the proposal and will ask the Dail to make an appropriation accordingly.

The Ministry realise the importance of the post of Ambassador to the United States and the suitability of Mr. Erskine Childers for the position, but they fear that, owing to the loss of Mr. Barton, he is at present too valuable an asset to the constructive side of their work here to be allowed to leave Ireland. They will endeavour to find some other suitable person for the United States Embassy, but they hope that they may find it possible in time to spare Mr. Childers for this post.³

Arrangements are also being made to secure the services of two Clerk Accountants for the Bond Office in New York, and the Secretary for Finance⁴ will supply Mr. Boland with details of the means of transmitting money to Ireland.

With regard to the query as to the amount of money required to be transmitted, the Ministry wish to say that this amount could not be accurately estimated at present. Large schemes in connection with Land, Fisheries, and other urgent problems are at present under consideration, and the amount of money required will be contingent upon the extent to which these schemes are adopted. Meanwhile, however, the Secretary for Finance is of opinion that arrangements might be made for the immediate transmission of £500,000.