Extract from a letter from John J. Hearne to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)
(483/7)

I am very grateful for your personal letter No. P.96 of the 21st June¹ in which you refer to the last paragraph of my report No. 14.F.52 of the 30th May.²

As you so kindly say, I know the present position as regards our relations with Commonwealth countries and the likely trend of events in that regard in the future.

The impression one gathers here that our present relations are a temporary arrangement and that we shall gradually settle down in 'the family' prevails mostly in circles - quite friendly to Ireland - in which our neutrality in the war is explained away by references to the number of Irishmen who fought in British forces, etc. You know the frame of mind. I don't attribute it to recent reports of improved relations between the British and ourselves or our attendance at conferences in London. Most Canadians hang on to Opposition speeches in Dáil Éireann in which speakers take a strong Commonwealth line. They want to see us settle down in the Commonwealth under the Taoiseach's or some other leadership. Hence they wishfully regard the present arrangement as temporary. That's how I read it.

I have it in my bones that the British will stage a Commonwealth (and Empire) Conference in the setting of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth as they did in 1937 in the setting of the coronation. They will want the Prime Ministers in London for the event and what more natural than constitutional and defence discussions in the atmosphere of the marriage of the heir to the throne at this critical time.

[matter omitted]