Confidential Report from Count Gerald O'Kelly de Gallagh to Joseph P. Walshe
(Dublin)

Dear Walshe,

Many thanks for your letter of the 28th¹ received this morning. I will include the Russian and the Turkish Embassies in my round. I never had any serious doubts about the Turkish and would not have raised the issue had not Quiñones de Leon² mentioned it.

As regards the Soviets, in the light of your letter I do not think there is any reason why I should not call. Had we ever actually broken off relations the position would have been different insasmuch as calling is an act that presupposes recognition. But since our relations with Russia are so indefinite I think we can do what we like and we are perfectly free to interpret the call merely as an act of courtesy from the Free State Minister in Paris to one of his colleagues.

I do not anticipate the slightest comment from either the British or the Canadians on the subject should they know of it - which is unlikely - but anyhow I do not propose discussing it with them.

By the way, you will be interested to hear that Quiñones de Leon asked me why I did not get accredited to Madrid as well as to Paris! He seemed anxious that it should be done and asked me if ever the question came on the tapis to let him know. He was at school with two of my Uncles (O'Byrne) in Beaumont in the old days and seems to know a good deal about Ireland. Should it ever be found desirable to open up relations with Madrid from the Paris Legation I think we have in him an obvious and sympathetic channel of communication.

I am going to try to get away to Brussels for a day or two about the 14th of next month to get delivery of some clothes. At the moment I'm very busy househunting and visiting. I called on Doumer, the President of the Senate, last night. He told me among other things that in the Departement du Cher there was a considerable Franco-Irish and Franco-Scotch population, originating from the times the Irish Brigade and the Scotch Guards were in garrison there! Irish and Scotch names are common, it appears, among the peasantry!

To-day we lunch with the Tyrrells.

I am not very optimistic about the house question. I daresay we'll find more or less what we require in time, but it will not be an easy job by any means. And what worries me is that I have been anxious to get away on leave before the expiry of the leave year. My wife has been seedy again and she really needs a change while I confess that I am myself tired out too. But I don't see any chance of getting away until the house question is settled. I wish the Government could see its way to buying outright. Every Legation in the place has bought out because they find it more economical in the long run. We would, I think, find it much easier to buy the type of premises we require for up to two million francs - £16,000 - than to rent the same thing. However, I suppose there is not the remotest chance of that solution for the present.