Memorandum from Joseph P. Walshe to Seán Murphy (Vichy)

M I S R E P R E S E N T A T I O N S

1. (a) That the German Legation in Dublin has a very large staff, variously estimated at 60, 80, 100 or even higher; (b) that there are thousands of German (and Japanese) nationals in Ireland.
   ACTUAL POSITION
   The entire staff of the German Legation consists of five officials and three typists. There is no German military, naval or air attaché in Dublin.

   The total number of Germans in the country, apart from Jewish refugees, is 165. Of these 25 are priests and five are nuns. The remaining 135 consist of 74 males and 61 females.

   There are only 3 Japanese in Ireland, viz., the Consul, the Vice-Consul and the former's wife.

2. That the Axis Representatives in Ireland are able to send information to their Governments (about Allied military movements, etc.) through their official bags or couriers under diplomatic privilege.
   ACTUAL POSITION
   Neither the German nor the Japanese Representative has sent or received any diplomatic bags since the beginning of the war nor has any German or Japanese courier left or arrived in Ireland.

   The Axis Representatives communicate with their Governments by telegram. All telegraph cables from Ireland pass direct to British territory.

3. That German submarines are refuelled on the Irish coast.
   ACTUAL POSITION

   No suggestion to this effect has ever been made to us by the British (or American) Authorities.

   Speaking in the Dáil on the 7th November 1940, the Taoiseach said (Col. 388): 'It is a lie to say that German submarines or any other submarines are being supplied with fuel or provisions on our coasts. A most extensive system of coast observation has been established here since the war. I say it is a lie and I say further that it is known to be a falsehood by the British Government itself.'

   In the British House of Lords on the 22nd October 1940, Lord Strabolgi referred to a statement made by Dr. James Little, M.P.,¹ that 'the Éire Government are winking at or permitting supplies of petrol to German submarines from Irish territory.' Lord Strabolgi said that this statement had received publicity in the English papers but he had seen no mention of the Irish Government's denials of the allegation. He said submarines do not use petrol, but heavy oil fuel, and that the idea that the quantities of heavy oil fuel that would be required could be conveyed to German submarines without attracting attention was grotesque.

   Replying for the Government, Lord Snell said that he had no information as to 'why the Ministry of Information allowed the statements to be put into the Press', but that he was 'able to say, bearing in mind all that is involved, that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have no evidence to the effect that enemy submarines are being supplied from Éire territory.' When Lord Newton complained that this statement was not 'absolutely conclusive', Lord Snell said: 'I should say that His Majesty's Government are not in the habit of making general statements without having made some enquiry as to the facts.'

   Despite these denials, the allegation has frequently been repeated. A statement on the 15th April 1944 by Sir Hugh O'Neill, a Six Counties M.P., that German submarines in recent weeks have sent boats ashore on the west coast of Ireland to meet German agents received prominent publicity in the British and American press.

4. (a) That Ireland is wholly dependent on British and Allied shipping and
   (b) that the lives of British and Allied seamen are endangered bringing supplies to Ireland.

   ACTUAL POSITION
   Apart from petroleum products, all our imports from overseas are carried on Irish ships. Irish ships do not sail in British or any other convoys. In reply to a Parliamentary Question in the British House of Commons on the 23rd June, 1943, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Mr. Noel Baker) said: 'So far as I am aware, no United Kingdom or Allied ship has been lost carrying a full cargo of goods either to or from Éire on an ocean voyage.'

   The trade between Britain and Ireland is carried partly on Irish and partly on British vessels.

   As regards petroleum products, see attached copy of Mr. Noel Baker 's reply to a question in the British House of Commons on the 4th August, 1943. We have no tanker in which to fetch our supply. One tanker would be sufficient to carry the very small quantity now available to us.