Handwritten letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Eamon de Valera (Dublin)

My dear President,

Many thanks for your very kind letter written from Paris.¹

I followed your journey as clearly as one can from the papers and I was delighted to see that it was such a wonderful success from beginning to end. I am looking forward to hearing your personal impressions.

The results in our home and external affairs are bound to be exceedingly good. It is another big break in the paper wall, and another big push forward of our first line of defence against English interference.

There is no doubt whatever that your reception in Rome and Paris in your full official (pace The Irish Press) capacity was an event of the very first importance in our relations with Great Britain. It has brought a favourable - perhaps a penultimate settlement - distinctly nearer. I hope you are already considering the question of an early visit to America - an official visit to Washington in the first instance. We must not hesitate to make every possible use of our present status to reach our goal, even though that method may cause misunderstandings (which you can dissipate in one speech) amongst some of our people, especially in America.

If I were at home, I would urge you very strongly to spend at least a week at the London Conference² and to find an opportunity for making a speech there. It is a great chance to continue the policy of creating new and salient historical facts which is the only effective way [of] getting the ear of the world.

I most earnestly hope, President, that your recent experiences have still further convinced you that you must remain Minister for External Affairs. In the trying years before us especially the same mind must directly control what are, really, only two facets - the external and the internal - of the same groups of activities of our State life.

My heart has been - and still is - undergoing very rigorous treatment which, at times, is very frustrating in its effects, but the Dr who is a tip-top man has my case well in hand and I feel, at last, certain that I shall be cured. Unfortunately I shall have to stay in Germany somewhat longer than I expected when I left Ireland, but it is better to go home with the sure feeling that I can take up my work without fears of further interruption. I am going to practice the motto you suggested so as I can move faster. At present my feet have to go slow independently of my will.

I am sorry not to have been with you during those wonderful days in Rome. Seán M. has not had time to write since he got home so I haven't yet heard about the 'bootiful symbols'. I hope to hear the details from him very soon.

Please give my kind regards to Mrs. de Valera. I remain, my dear President, with great esteem and respect and with all good wishes for continued success in your great work.