Personal code telegram from Seán Murphy to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(No. 355) ¹

Hope you have received letter sent through French Foreign Office. I was very coldly received and rudely received by Secretary General who stated they wanted no heads of missions who served in Vichy. The same attitude was adopted towards Nuncio and other colleagues. Nuncio extremely annoyed.

The Foreign Office had received your proposal of de facto recognition, but this did not appear to satisfy Secretary General who became irritable at mention of word 'de facto'. I ascertained privately Allied representatives moved to Paris without further accrediting than that effected in Algiers. Please instruct what steps I should now take.

The general impression of the Foreign Office was excitable truculent. The Administration generally is chaotic. The instructions of Central Government are not accepted in many parts where quasi Soviet régime is in operation. I consider present régime cannot last for long and that Americans will soon be obliged to intervene to maintain order.