Letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)
(12/7)

My dear Secretary,
Following your instructions, I have entrusted the purchase of the Villa Spada and all the legal and other formalities connected therewith to a good lawyer.

Before doing so, I went to see Count Galeazzo, who, as you know, apart from his official position as Chief Architect to the Vatican, is the real administrator of the Vatican State and a close friend and adviser of the Holy Father. He advised me to employ Prince Pacelli, the legal adviser to the Vatican State. I had expected this advice, in any case, and, from what I have heard and seen of him, I believe he will be most satisfactory. Bargaining here is a slow process at all times, and I think it will be doubly slow in this case owing to the proprietor's racial origins. That is rather unfortunate, as this house becomes more and more unbearable as the heat continues. However, it has been an enormous help to be able to tell the Holy See that we have the sanction of the Government to buy the Spada. It has created a complete change of atmosphere.