Two telegrams from Frederick H. Boland to the Department of External Affairs (Dublin)

[1]

My telegram 453 even allowing for exclusion of Technical Committee goods, I am concerned at relative lowness of estimated dollar imports in your telegram 401¹ and find it difficult to reconcile your figures with figures of dollar expenditure recently given in Dáil by Minister for Finance. For example he gave dollars 14,000,000 for piece goods for first 8 months present year; your telegram gives ^xquarter^x (?) million for textile and clothing for whole 1948. It is vitally important not to understate dollar needs at this stage for following reasons first European exchange availability will continue low for a long time to come secondly we cannot count on dollar pool to same extent as before thirdly our share of Marshall aid will tend to be measured by dollar needs stated now. If McElligott and Leydon have not seen figures please put these views before them. I do not suggest over-stating but merely that dollar need stated should be adequate. Embarrassing to change figures already sent in but it can be done if necessary. Please reply urgently.

[2]

Have handed in reply but on consideration I wonder whether in view of probable European shortage and likelihood of dollar aid becoming available for participating countries our estimated imports from America and Continent particularly as regards machinery have not been placed very low in relation to those from participating countries. Presume that replies to questionnaires are being screened on policy level from this general point of view before being sent. Consideration mentioned may possibly be of practical importance later. It should be remembered that participating countries will tend to prefer dollar countries for export because primary aim of plan is to establish balance with dollar area.