Confidential Report from Daniel A. Binchy to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)¹

A few evenings ago I was present at a small dinner-party given by Herr von Bülow, the permanent head of the Foreign Office. The Chancellor, Dr. Brüning, the Vice-Chancellor, and the American Ambassador and his wife were among the guests. After dinner I had a conversation with the Chancellor. He professed great interest in Ireland, and asked many questions about the position of the Dominions. I think he was chiefly anxious to know whether we were in a position to influence the policy of the British Commonwealth as a whole and of Great Britain in particular towards Germany. I said that while each member of the Commonwealth was perfectly free to have its own policy towards any particular country, the special relationship existing between them would necessitate consultation and agreement in all matters of common interest. This only proves what I have always insisted upon, that our chief significance in German eyes is whatever influence we can exert on the policy of the Commonwealth as a whole.