Letter from Count Gerald O'Kelly de Gallagh to Joseph P. Walshe (London)¹
(52/D.30)

I see from a cutting in the press that there is a Franco-Irish international rugby match to be held in Paris on New Year's day.

I have received no notification of it so far and do not expect to receive any for some time to come. The Legation will presumably get an invitation to attend, but before having to reply to such an invitation I would like to know:

In this connexion I would point out that the only political international unit as which Ireland exists is the Irish Free State and that consequently it would be intolerable to have the occasion honoured by any but the Saorstát National Anthem and the Saorstát flag. I suggest that the proper Rugby authority in Dublin be interviewed on the subject and that it be pointed out to him that for international purposes the Free State exists and Northern Ireland does not exist and that it would be letting the country down badly to have any attempt to introduce into the proceedings any anthem but the Soldier's song and any flag but the tricolour.

It would certainly be impossible for the Legation to be present were such an effort made and it would, I think, be regrettable that the Legation should not be present. Unity between South and North in the field of sport would be bought at much too great a price if it should compromise in the least the international status of the Saorstát.

I raise this question because I believe there was trouble on this question before and I greatly fear that there should be trouble again.

I think it would be absolutely disastrous to have an Irish sporting manifestation of this sort associated with either the Union Jack or God save the King.

Of course I may be forcing an open door and all I have said may be fully accepted by the Irish Rugby Authorities. But if it is not, it might be pointed out that as citizens of the Saorstát Éireann they have an international status but that such a thing as a citizen of Northern Ireland does not exist internationally.

I dare say that if I were personally to mention it to the French Rugby authorities everything would be done according to my desire, but I think it preferable that the initiative should come from the Rugby people in Dublin.