'Démarches made to Foreign Governments in accordance with the Resolution concerning Religious Persecution passed by Dáil Éireann on the 21st November 1946'

USA

Minister called on Mr. Dean Acheson, Acting Secretary of State

Mr. Acheson assured the Minister that the Resolution would be given every consideration by the Dept. of State. He did not see how they could intervene directly in the Archbishop Stepinac case as the latter was not an American citizen, but they had called the attention of the Yugoslav Government to the apparent violation of some of their commitments as a member of UNO. The question of an international convention suggested in the resolution was receiving the earnest attention of the State Dept. and was also being discussed by a special commission of UNO.

Gt. Britain¹

High Commissioner saw Mr. Bevin, Foreign Secretary

Mr. Bevin expressed sympathy with our attitude and said the solution lay in an International Court of Human Rights. He was very hopeful that some such Court would be set up before the end of the year.

Australia

Minister is awaiting the return to Canberra on 20th January of Dr. Evatt.

Canada²

High Commissioner Mr. St. Laurent, Minister for External Affairs

Mr. St. Laurent was distinctly hostile and said a miscarriage of justice in the Stepinac case could not be established. He criticised indirectly the terms of our resolution, inferring that it had a Protestant background. 'In Quebec we take our ideas from St. Thomas Aquinas and the Gospels'. The Catholic Church throughout the world lacked leadership at present and great harm was being done by 'irresponsible pronouncements' of certain Irish Bishops in support of General Franco.

Mr. St. Laurent concluded, however, by undertaking to send a formal reply to our démarche. This has not yet been received, but it may be assumed that it will be more helpful than Mr. St. Laurent's remarks.

New Zealand

Mr. Dulanty called on Mr. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand in London.

Mr. Jordan knew his Government would be sympathetic with our view and promised to communicate immediately with his Prime Minister. The New Zealand Government would be wholeheartedly in favour of an International Court of Human Rights, but he personally doubted the practicability of establishing such a body.

South Africa

Mr. Dulanty called on Mr. Heaton Nicholls, High Commissioner for South Africa in London

Mr. Heaton was sure his Government would be in sympathy with the resolution. He himself, however, thought it unlikely that UNO would succeed in establishing an International Court of Human Rights.

Belgium

Our Minister to Belgium sent a copy of the Dáil resolution to the Belgian Foreign Office.

The Belgian Foreign Office formally acknowledged receipt. Mr. Murphy will have an opportunity of making further representations when he visits Brussels in connection with the establish- ment of our Legation there.

Brazil

The Department made a démarche through the Brazilian Consul

The Consul undertook to inform his Government immediately of our démarche.

Chile

Assistant Secretary made a démarche through the Chilean Consul-General.

ditto

Czecho-slovakia

The Department made a démarche through the Czechoslovak Consul.

ditto

Denmark

The Department made a démarche through the Danish Consul-General.

ditto

France

Minister saw the Secretary General of the Foreign Office. (At the time, following the General Election, there was no Foreign Minister in full function).

The Secretary General was quite sympathetic but said the political situation in Yugoslavia was particularly difficult.

Italy

Minister called on the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

The Under-Secretary said his Government were in agreement with the principle of religious liberty but, being a coalition composed largely of parties of the Left, they had to act with prudence.

Netherlands

The Department made a démarche through the Netherlands Chargé d'Affaires.

The Chargé d'Affaires expressed sympathy with the object of the Resolution and promised to communicate immediately with his Government.

Portugal

Chargé d'Affaires called on the Under Secretary of State.

The Under-Secretary expressed full sympathy with the terms of the Resolution and undertook to arrange an interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This has not yet taken place.

Spain

Minister called on the Political Director of the Foreign Office

The Foreign Office replied to the Minister's démarche in an official Note expressing the profound satisfaction of the Spanish Government at the protest made by Dáil Éireann. On the sug- gestion of the Cardinal Primate, the Spanish Government had already impressed on the British and United States Governments the horror of all Spanish Catholics at the infamous proceedings against Archbishop Stepinac.

Sweden

Chargé d'Affaires called on Mr. Gräfstrom, Head of Political Section of Swedish Foreign Office.

Mr. Gräfstrom said that, while the Swedish Government deplored the denial of religious liberty anywhere, they were not prepared to make their views known to Yugoslavia or any other country. Sweden was a small weak country whose voice could be ignored with impunity. The matter was essentially one for UNO where, he felt sure, Sweden would support the views of liberty-loving peoples.

Switzerland

Chargé d'Affaires called on M. Petitpierre, Head of the Federal Political Department.

M. Petitpierre was sympathetic and appeared anxious to be helpful. He asked to be kept informed of the results of our démarches and of our further intentions with regard to proposals for an international convention. He was glad the démarche was not based on any particular case. If particular cases in Eastern Europe were raised, the Protestant sections in Switzerland would feel that the persecution in Spain of their co-religionists should also be condemned.