Memorandum by Eamon de Valera of a meeting with Sir John Maffey ¹

On Sunday night, at 1.30 a.m. Mr. Walshe rang me up to say that Sir John Maffey had a message from Mr. Churchill which he was instructed to deliver to me personally at once. I arranged to see him in half an hour, and saw him at 2.05 a.m. He said that he had got a message from Mr. Churchill which he was asked to deliver. I gathered from his introductory remarks before handing me the paper that he was rather surprised at the message; that he regarded it as Churchillian. I understood that it was an invitation to go over to see him. Before seeing the paper I pointed out to him that I thought it would be unwise; that it would probably be misunderstood by our people and regarded to have a significance beyond anything which it would in reality have; that after the visit, even [though] there would be no agreements of any kind arrived at, it would be thought that some secret bargain had been made and that anything the Government might do here, even though it was something that would have to be done had the visit never taken place, it would be regarded as a direct outcome of the visit, that it would increase the Government's difficulties in every way.

On being handed the written text I concluded that it was Mr. Churchill's way of intimating now is the chance for taking action which would ultimately lead to the unification of the country. I indicated to Sir John Maffey that I did not see the thing in that light, I saw no opportunity at the moment of securing unity, that our people were determined on their attitude of neutrality, etc. I pointed out that it was not because I did not wish to meet Mr. Churchill, that I was not in favour of going. I was not in favour of it because I considered it unwise; that I didn't see any basis of agreement and that disagreement might leave conditions worse than before and that my visit in any case would have the results that I had already indicated.

Sir John Maffey urged that whilst he understood my position, that I should not turn the suggestion flatly down. I said that I would naturally consult my colleagues on the matter and would let him know. On receiving Mr. Walshe's message I rang up the Chief of Staff and Mr. Moynihan so that they would be ready for any instructions that would be given at the end of the interview. When the interview was over I told them that they could go to bed as no urgent action was necessary.

Speaking to Mr. Walshe next morning he informed me that Sir John Maffey was leaving town for a couple of days and thought that Wednesday would be early enough for the reply. I asked Mr. Moynihan to summon a meeting of the Government for 11 a.m.