Dearg code telegram from Joseph P. Walshe to Robert Brennan (Washington)
(No. 123)

Your telegram 143.¹

It is doubtful whether good would come out of such public statement made by you personally. It might even alienate our good friends in Security Service if they were publicly brought into conflict with State Department which is after all the President so far as this quarrel is concerned. You could, of course, talk as plainly as you wish to friends and tell them that Security are satisfied but that Gray will not let them reside here any longer for reasons stated your 127² and we are most anxious to have them here. We are convinced American Government does not fear serious espionage from here. Why do they not place some of their men here if they are? Why do they not insist on closing Border? British are not even thinking of doing it though suggestion made by us. The real object is to force us to abandon neutrality and enter the war, and it appears from Cordell Hull's speech that they intend to use pressure by withholding supplies. Apart from injustice of such measures in themselves, it is a libel to class Ireland with countries which are sources of supply for Germany's war effort, whereas hundreds of thousands of our people are fighting and working for Britain and the State itself is safeguarding interests of United Nations within our borders. More could not be done without actual participation in war – a complete impossibility since it would cause civil war, revulsion against Allies and untold evils to future of our nation.

Foregoing for talking with friends.