Circular from Sheila G. Murphy to all missions (except Holy See)

With reference to the Department's circular minute No. 301/2 of the 26th September concerning our application for admission to FAO,¹ you will be interested to learn that, following further discussions, the British have withdrawn their objection to the use of the term 'Ireland' in connection with International Organisations, etc. and have decided not to put in any amendment to the official records of the FAO Conference. It is not anticipated, therefore, that there will be any further controversy with the British on this point. This does not necessarily mean that the British will drop their own practice of referring to this State as 'Éire' but, for the moment, we are well satisfied that the possibility of continual friction with them about the use of the term 'Ireland' in regard to membership of international bodies should have been eliminated.

The anomalous situation created by the appearance of 'Éire' in the State Symbol and also in certain official publications is being examined.

I take this opportunity of reminding you of the Minister's wish that the expression 'Great Britain' or 'British' should always be used by the Missions in place of 'the United Kingdom' and that of 'the Six Counties' in place of 'Northern Ireland'.