Extract from a dearg code telegram from Joseph P. Walshe
to Seán Murphy (Vichy)
(No. 633) (Sent via Telegram (No. 103) to Berne)

[matter omitted]

Have protested Massigli your treatment by Secretary General and asked him to transmit to Paris. Protest runs generally as follows. Begins.

Rudeness to our representative was rudeness to Government. There must be serious misapprehension since we had treated French Legation Dublin with greatest consideration. After adhesion to Committee had left all privileges stand except title of Minister … Moment Pétain left Vichy had restored title and given fullest recognition to Legation and hence to present French Government … (Minister here should long ago have made known all this to his Government, but we fear they regard him as useless and may not read his telegrams if they did reach them) We expected immediate apology and complete acceptance of our representative … Failing that we should feel obliged to withdraw our recognition from the French Legation here. Such a step would be very painful for us, as we had always had very friendly relations with France to whom we were linked by history and natural sympathy, but we had no alternative as Government could not, without sacrificing its sovereign right, allow its representative to be so treated or its right to neutrality so impugned. End of protest.

I regret it was impossible to contact you and make known to you our revised attitude about recognition consequent on Pétain departure and speedy liberation of France. We thought better to give full recognition at once on principle that small country should not play politics, and for us to withhold recognition once Government definitely in existence might be construed as unfriendly. If at all possible, we must put things right with France. No doubt, your treatment, like that of Nuncio, due to frayed temper and inevitable annoyance with Vichy. In circumstances, would be well if you could establish contact with Paris again. If not possible direct, then through some other channel from Vichy. Another talk with Secretary General might put everything right. It is, above all, necessary to emphasise that your acceptance by them is corollary to our acceptance of their Minister here and that both must co-exist in order to constitute full relations between us. We feel that, if French Government understands situation properly, difficulty will disappear. Insist on right to communicate with us. There is, of course, no restriction on French Legation here.

The sooner you return finally to Paris the better. If you have fears of disturbances, better send family home. Once present difficulty solved, visit from yourself desirable. Believed possible for diplomats travel by 'plane Paris London. Say what you can in clear if not allowed use code. Telegram about Francs being sent today Monday.