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

With the exception of the Guatemalan Legation, with which I have so far not been able to get in touch - there never seems to be anybody on the premises - I have now interviewed all the Missions in Paris that it was desirable to interview in connexion with our candidature for a seat on the Council of the League of Nations.

I have reported separately the results of each visit I paid. While you will notice that in hardly any case was a definite promise of a vote forthcoming - such promises were hardly to be expected - the reception given to the announcement of our candidature was, in the vast majority of cases, characterised by a cordiality which I judged to be spontaneous and sincere and which was in no way a mere evidence of courtesy. Of course these expressions of friendship do not bind Governments, but the state of feeling which they indicate is certainly very favourable and, while I have no means of judging of the practical value of such manifestations before the election has taken place, I do not think it unreasonably optimistic to state that the Irish Candidature will be a popular candidature in practically all sections of Geneva.

By collating the information derived from other sources which you have available it will probably now be possible to form a pretty well-informed opinion as to our chances of election.