Extract from a telegram from Robert Brennan to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)

Yesterday I saw Under Secretary of State,¹ who was accompanied by representative of Economic Division and Mr. Wales (who is in British Trade Commissioner's Department) ....

I then announced my departure and asked for agrément for Nunan, about which they said there would be no difficulty.

In spite of the presence of others, I decided to bring up the question of Gray, because it is difficult nowadays to see Secretary or Under Secretary of State without having one or two other officials present.

I went fully into Gray's record of hostility, mentioning particularly Gough correspondence,² aviation agreement, hostile propaganda given to correspondents, instance of Jack July 27th, and others.

The Under Secretary of State heard me and then asked if he was to take my representations as officially from Government, which would be serious as tantamount to declaring Gray non persona grata. I said No, that we were fully conscious of the gravity of such a step. I said I had been trying for a long time to get my Government to allow me to make such representations and they had refused. I was making them now because it would be easier for me to do so than for my successor.

Under Secretary of State was very courteous but non-committal. He expressed regret at my leaving.