Telegram from the Department of External Affairs to Colman O'Donovan (Holy See)
(No. 3) (Personal)

With reference to my telegram no. 2¹ bombings on the night of 1st and 2nd coincided with German raids on Merseyside and those on the night of 2nd and 3rd with raids on Cardiff and other parts of British West Coast. The bombings have caused local uneasiness here but informed opinion regards them as unintentional and on a par with admitted British bombings of Malmo and Helsingborg in Sweden and Zurich Basle and other Swiss cities. The intentional German bombing of Ireland at the present stage obviously most unlikely.

Associated Press reports of broadcast by Columbia and National networks that foreign planes flew over Dublin in daylight yesterday and that the expulsion of the German Minister is under consideration are pure fabrications. We hope that early German apology and admission of liability will dispose of the matter.

Accident explanation attributes happenings variously to icing up difficult navigation and scattering of German raiders by British night fighters. Please inform other Legation² for personal and confidential information.