Minute from Cornelius C. Cremin to Leo T. McCauley(Dublin)

Assistant Secretary,
I should be glad to have a direction as to

1. the way in which Dr. Kiernan should be addressed in correspondence;
2. how he is to be described on published lists (e.g. Thoms, Whitakers, etc.)

As you know the credential given to Dr. Kiernan did not specifically mention the title of his post in Australia, saying simply that he was 'to represent Ireland in Australia'. He was described as Thomas Joseph Kiernan Esq., MA, PhD, Minister Plenipotentiary and the last paragraph of the credential spoke of the establishment of 'direct diplomatic representation between Ireland and Australia'. The Australian representative here is described by them as High Commissioner in conformity with the statement made by Dr. Evatt in the House of Representatives on the 9th April last in reply to an enquiry from Deputy Harrison as to 'why Mr. Dignam has been appointed as a Minister and not as a High Commissioner'. I understand, however, that we wish to avoid Dr. Kiernan's being called High Commissioner and would like to see him ultimately assume the official title of Minister of Ireland. Perhaps the best solution immediately might be to refer to him as Representative of Ireland as the Australians would probably object to our calling him Minister of Ireland and the word 'representative' is, at the worst, non-committal. If this should be agreed to, we may address him in official minutes in the same manner as we do the High Commissioner in London, that is by the Irish form 'Ionadaí'. Envelopes, bags, etc., could then be addressed in English as follows:-

His Excellency Thomas Joseph Kiernan (MA, PhD(?)),

Minister Plenipotentiary,

Representative of Ireland,

Canberra (or Sydney as the case may be).

The same form could be used in Thoms and other directories and members of the public wishing to know how to address him could also be furnished with that form.