Letter from Count Gerald O'Kelly de Gallagh to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(109/B/30)

I have the honour to inform you that I had an interview this morning with Monsieur Guerrero, Minister of Salvador and former president of the Council of the League of Nations, in connexion with our candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Council of the League.

M. Guerrero, whom I have already met on several occasions since my arrival in Paris, promised me definitely his vote at the election and added that he would make it his business to push our candidature with all his South American colleagues and with the Little Entente.

He informed me that, as you are doubtless aware, the Little Entente and the South American group usually work in agreement in League matters and that he had no doubt but that he could secure the adoption of our candidature by the entire group. He promised to communicate immediately with both M. Titulesco (Romania) and with M. Aguero y Bethancourt, the Cuban Minister in Berlin, to obtain their support. He added that M. Aguero y Bethancourt would be a very precious ally. Acting on independent information to the same effect I had already written to Professor Binchy about this gentleman.

In the course of our conversation, M. Guerrero informed me that when M. Dandurand was elected for Canada, it was largely because of his personal popularity with his colleagues, there being considerable misgivings among the members of the Assembly as to whether the election of Canada did not in effect mean a second vote for Britain. He added that it was quite obvious that there could be no such misgivings concerning our candidature. Our record was conclusive on the point. As for Australia, he had no doubt at all that the vast majority of the Assembly would much prefer to have Ireland on the Council. As a personal appreciation, M. Guerrero expressed the view that Ireland and South Africa could be counted upon to exercise an independent vote, whereas Australia, New Zealand and India would always vote with Britain, and Canada was doubtful. It is an interesting appreciation.