Extract from a letter from Frederick H. Boland to Thomas J. Kiernan (Canberra)
(Personal and Confidential)

Are we right in reading your report M/I/P of the 15th April¹ as meaning that Panico has given up the idea of coming here direct from Australia, before he visits Rome? We took it from your official minute C/3 of the 4th March² that that was his plan.

Actually, we don't like the idea of Panico's coming to Ireland at all. We don't see what business he has here. Our original apprehensions were greatly increased by the statement in his Visa application form that his purpose in coming here was to 'visit the Nuncio and Taoiseach about his mission in Australia'. For your confidential information, the Taoiseach decided, when he read this, to instruct the Ambassador in Rome to suggest to the Vatican authorities that Panico should not come here at all. It would be an impropriety for him to come to Ireland before he had reported to Rome and to attempt - as he, apparently, intended to do - to discuss his mission in Australia with the Taoiseach and the Nuncio here, neither of whose business it is, would be wholly irregular and, indeed, an inexcusable piece of presumption on the Delegate's part. The Ambassador spoke to Montini who was horrified at the idea and blamed the Propaganda for agreeing to such a proposal without consulting him. We gather from a telegram received from the Ambassador yesterday that instructions have been sent to Panico to prevent him coming here before he has been to Rome. We sincerely hope that he won't come here at all. If he did come, certain courtesies would inevitably have to be extended to him and particularly in view of Dr. Mannix's remark to you about the reception accorded to Cardinal Gilroy and Dr. Simmonds, I imagine that any official consideration extended to Panico here would be apt to be misunderstood, and even resented, in Australia.

It is a bad sign that Panico and Bernardini are being spoken of as possible Nuncios here. I don't know much about Bernardini but Panico would be definitely unacceptable. We must rely on the efforts of the Ambassador to avert any such catastrophe.

[matter omitted]