Draft memorandum by Joseph P. Walshe
'Internment of German military aircraft, vessels and war matériel in Ireland'

I informed the American Minister that, should German warships or aircraft enter Irish territory, inclusive of territorial waters, during the course of the present hostilities, they would be interned in accordance with generallyrecognised rules of international law until the formal conclusion of peace.

In this connection, I handed to the American Minister a copy of an AideMémoire which was communicated by the Government to the British, French and German Governments on the 12th September, 1939.¹

I stated, on instructions from the Minister for External Affairs, that the Irish Government appreciated their responsibility to keep intact until restoration or disposal in conformity with an agreement to be reached between the belligerents concerned, all warlike matériel interned in Ireland. They proposed to use such means as were available to them to preserve and maintain in good condition all matériel in Irish custody.

I added that, apart from the question of so disposing of interned matériel at the end of the war as to ensure themselves against any subsequent claims from any quarter, for international damages, the Irish Government would be obliged to take into account, before finally releasing interned belligerent property, all lawful charges attaching thereto whether payable to the State itself or to corporations or persons within Irish jurisdiction.