Confidential report from Michael MacWhite to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(Confidential) (Copy)

From the report of the interview I had with Count Ciano when I referred to the question of Partition and from the other reports I have forwarded to you since then it should not be difficult to conclude that it would be an illusion to count on Fascist Italy taking any particular interest in Irish affairs.

From time to time, though not so much recently, the Italian press has played up Ireland just as it has played up Palestine, and may do so again, not because of any particular sympathy for us but rather as a convenient weapon with which to belabour John Bull. Since the adoption of Sanctions by the League of Nations Ireland has figured on the map of countries blackened over that voted for the 'economic stranglehold' of Italy. This map still hangs in the Foreign Minister's office. Ireland is also regarded as one of the props of the League of Nations which institution is loathed as much by Fascism as is Soviet Russia.

There is little doubt that the Fascists think also of Ireland as a satellite in Britain's orbit. Ambassador Buti, Head of the European Division of the Foreign Office at the Pirow¹ luncheon a week ago said to me 'Your country like South Africa differs sometimes in your foreign policy with that of Great Britain but the logic of facts impose on you all a system of common defense'. I told him of the Taoiseach's remarks on the subject five or six weeks before and also reminded him of Pirow's statement on the same subject a few days previously. He made no reply beyond a facetious smile.

The question of Partition in Ireland has no significance for Fascists. It is vague and far away, and when one speaks of it they appear bored and indifferent, and that says much for a people who, as a rule, present a courteous exterior. They will not listen. Besides, the bludgeoning of Nationalists or the gerrymandering of Electoral districts in the North is amateurish when compared with their methods where the people vote when and as they are told, and where freedom of speech and of the press are non-existent.

To attempt to convince Continental peoples of the objectivity of our views in a case where England is concerned is a rather difficult task for they have always regarded the Irish question as something that is, in itself, anti-British. For the moment the policy of Fascism is one of closer friendship with England and there is no newspaper in Italy would publish a line that might be considered even vaguely as retarding this much desired objective. Italian newspaper men avoid meeting diplomats if they wish to hold their Fascist cards which mean their jobs and diplomats have no opportunity of establishing contacts with them without the aid of bona fide press attaches.

During my time here I have not, as you may well understand, had occasion to meet many persons outside of the Diplomatic Corps. I arrived here with very light diplomatic baggage ignorant of the language and conditions and no previously planned lines to follow. Much time was wasted in looking for Legation premises and until I get a working acquaintanceship with the language progress will not be very rapid. A list of the officials who have lunched or dined with us is annexed hereto² but to say that I have close contact with any of them would be an exaggeration.