Extract from a letter from Joseph Walshe to Desmond FitzGerald (Geneva)

A Chara,

1. There has been no development in matters concerning this Department requiring your personal attention.

2. The reports of the receptions accorded everywhere to the President and Ministers have produced an excellent effect on public opinion here. Well affected people rejoice that the position of the President, as head of the State, has been definitely asserted abroad. (The 'Excelsior' refers to him 'tout naturellement' as President de la Republique Irlandaise). The disaffected are dismayed as they feel that they are losing one of the best weapons in their armoury.

3. The results of the elections would have been overwhelmingly in favour of the Cumann na nGaedheal were it not for extremely bad organisation in a large number of districts. Mr Bewley, lately employed as our representative in Berlin, informs me that the mass of the electors in his constituency did not know even the names of the candidates.

The prevailing view here is that the majorities secured by the Ministers have more than compensated for the unexpected number of deputies elected in the irregular interest. There is complete confidence in the Government's power to carry through whatever programme it wishes to propose for legislation.

A commonly held opinion gives the Irregulars six months playacting before coming into the Dáil and becoming a constitutional party.

4. With the sanction of the Vice-President, the following telegram has been despatched to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan:

It was thought better to send the telegram in your name, the supposition being that you had wired instructions from Geneva.

[Matter omitted]