Letter from Éamon de Valera to Baron Begougne de Juniac¹ (Dublin)

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Note of the 4th July conveying an invitation to the Government of Ireland to be represented at a meeting in Paris on the 12th July for the purpose of setting up an organisation whose task it will be to draw up a programme for European reconstruction in accordance with the suggestions contained in the speech of the Secretary of State of the United States at Harvard University on the 5th June.²

The Government of Ireland accept this invitation with pleasure, and have nominated Mr. Seán Lemass, TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Industry and Commerce, and Mr. Patrick Smith, TD, Minister for Agriculture, to represent Ireland at the Paris meeting. The names of the officials who will accompany Mr. Lemass and Mr. Smith will be notified to you later.

The Irish Government's acceptance of the invitation conveyed in your Note is based on the conviction that the early restoration of sound economic conditions in Europe is an essential pre-requisite of world economic stability, which, in turn, is a vital element in the task of preserving peace; and that the method of joint international action constitutes, in present circumstances, the best approach to the problems involved in the task of European economic reconstruction.

In the meantime, the proposals contained in the annex to your Note will receive the careful consideration of the Irish Government.

Accept, Sir, the assurance of my high consideration.