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

In reference to your cable No. 8 of yesterday's date¹ and to your confidential minute of the 25th instant² relative to the visit of the Taoiseach to Rome next week for the Coronation of the Pope, I forwarded you the following telegram today:

'Must visit to Duce be after audience with Pope as colleague insists. If so advisable take no steps about it before arrival here as question of protocol in that respect is highly delicate'.

I discussed the matter at some length with Mr. Macaulay who says that as Taoiseach is coming here specially for the Coronation it would be deeply resented at the Vatican if he called on the Duce before the principal functions connected with his mission have been completed. These include an audience with the new Pope which may not be accorded for two or three days after the Coronation.

On the other hand, it is well known that the Duce does not appreciate visitors who subordinate their calls to the convenience of the Vatican. When he was Minister for Foreign Affairs he is said to have tolerated a few of that nature, but now that he has relinquished that office he is more difficult of access. As nobody knows his mind, it might not be prudent to say anything too far in advance of the Taoiseach's desire to visit him as the day before or the day after the Coronation might be suggested which would, of course, be most embarrassing.