Extract from a letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)
(Secret)

Babuscio is going back to Dublin, and I am giving him this note to take with him. I was very glad to see McC[ann]. I should like very much to keep him, but I can see from your wire that you really could not spare him now; however I wish to let you know now that he is the very type of fellow I want here. That seems rather too speedy a judgment to come to about him; yet you feel he is the essence of normality. He is interested at once ... quite naturally ... in everything. He is also a good pious fellow and knows what Catholic principles are and how they can be formulated. He has no tip about himself and is ready to learn. Another thing ... and a very important point is that he wants to come abroad and he knows that there is [a] definite job to be done here. He tells me you are frightfully badly off for men in the Dept. Indeed the situation appears to be quite desperate. Could you bring back some of the older men for a while to the Dept until you had a good selection of young fellows trained? McDonald could do very well with some years at home and if you could give me McCann towards the end of the year I should be very glad to let him go. He strikes me as just a bit of a furbo¹ and I am not enthusiastic about [his] methods of work. However we shall see what can be done with him. I hope you will be able to make sure that he arrives at least several days before McC[ann] leaves. These intervals are so disturbing. Nicholas [Nolan] was in great form leaving as I am sure he was on arrival home. I hope he will be able for the job though he is quite capable of giving offence to the Ministers if he is not very careful ... by his belief in the absolute perfection of all he does and thinks.²

I shook his complacency a bit perhaps in his eight odd months here; but he had not yet begun to look at the Italian newspapers or to take the slightest interest in Roman, Vatican or world affairs. He did become a bit careless about the office and he lost his zeal for improving methods etc but that was almost the only bright spot.

[matter omitted]

This is written in a fearful rush as Babuscio suddenly announced his departure at 1.30 just half an hour ago (now 12.40 and he is coming to lunch in five minutes). Above all, Fred, I beg of you as a good friend never to let either Leo or Gallagher fire off letters or telegrams at me suggesting I am neglecting or have neglected the interests of the State. That is the one thing I cannot stand - would cause such a collapse in my psychological relations with home that I could not physically go on. That may indicate great weakness of character but I can't work without the understanding and sympathy which you have created between us and I am sure between yourself and the other reps abroad.

[matter omitted]