Memorandum from Leo T. McCauley to Éamon de Valera (Dublin) with covering note from McCauley to Kathleen O'Connell (Dublin)

Dear Miss O'Connell,
Would you please submit to the Taoiseach the accompanying note in regard to an invitation to this country to participate in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment to be held next month. With a view to the preparation of a memorandum for the Government, we are anxious to have the Taoiseach's views as to whether the invitation should be accepted or not.

[memorandum]

Taoiseach, Minister for External Affairs

1. With a view to our preparing a memorandum for the Government in regard to an invitation received to participate in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment due to open at Havana on the 21st November, I should be glad to have your views on acceptance or refusal of the invitation.
2. The Departments of Agriculture, Finance and Industry and Commerce feel that, on technical grounds, it would not be necessary to send a delegation and that we could not justify sending a full-scale delegation. Acceptance of the invitation would, therefore, be on grounds of general policy, e.g., that Ireland is a candidate for admission to UNO and that acceptance of an invitation to an important conference of this kind called by the United Nations would be proof of our desire to cooperate in the work of that body. It is to be noted, however, that Ireland and the other non-members of UNO invited to Havana will not enjoy voting rights. This is the first occasion on which we have been invited to send a delegation to a Conference without voting rights. We received and accepted an invitation to send an observer (without, of course, voting rights) to the World Health Conference called by the United Nations in June, 1946.
3. We have ascertained the attitude of three of the countries not members of UNO invited to Havana, viz., Italy, Portugal and Switzerland. The Swiss Government have accepted the invitation 'without enthusiasm' and are sending a delegation of one (possibly more). Italy has refused the invitation and is resisting pressure (probably from Britain and the USA) to alter her decision. The Portuguese Government were not anxious to send a delegation but, for reasons of policy and in deference to a request from Great Britain and the USA, will be represented by their local Chargé d'Affaires.
4. The British have intimated that they would like us to be present. We understand that the Americans were in favour of confining voting rights to UNO members.
5. If we should not (on grounds of policy) wish to refuse the invitation, we might have Mr. Nunan or a member of his staff in Washington attend the opening meetings of the Conference.