Handwritten rough notes for Eamon de Valera, by Joseph P. Walshe, on John W.
Dulanty's meeting with British civil servants

Dulanty saw the B. Civil Servants today (3.45). He told them that they would probably see interesting news about your plans in tomorrow's papers.

They said it was a pity if we were taking any line which would put off a United Ireland, but Dulanty answered that they had made no overtures about a United Ireland. Had they any to make even now, they said they had not.

Sir Horace Wilson (one of Baldwin's right-hand men) suggested tentatively 'in the most friendly way'

1. that nothing should be said this evening that could be construed as a positive expulsion of the King. We should rather stress our determination to be independent in internal affairs
2. that we should emphasize to the utmost our independence in internal affairs but at the same time express our intention 'to adhere to the King as the symbol of cooperation with the other States members in External Affairs'.

'Even if the King did not participate at all in internal affairs something might be done provided there was not a complete eviction'.

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I don't attach any importance to these statements made by Civil Servants - but they will show you how far the B. have been obliged to move towards us by the system of the 'fait accompli'.