Meeting of the Irish delegation to the British-Irish trade talks, chaired by Éamon de Valera

A meeting of the Irish Delegation was held in the Office of the High Commissioner at 10 a.m. on the 3rd November. The Taoiseach presided and there were also present the Tánaiste, the Ministers for Finance and Agriculture, the High Commissioner, Mr. McElligott and Mr. Hogan of the Department of Finance, Mr. Ó Broin and Mr. Dempsey of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Williams and Mr. McCarthy of the Department of Industry and Commerce, Mr. M. Ó Muimhneacháin, Secretary to the Government and Mr. F. Gallagher, Director of the Government Information Bureau.

The line to be taken at the meeting in the afternoon between the British and Irish Ministers was discussed. So far as Agriculture items are concerned it was decided that the Minister for Agriculture would press for an increase of 1d. in the £ in the offer made under the head of fat cattle. It should be argued that it was a matter of opinion as to the price that would tempt the farmers to sell their fat cattle and so avoid the danger that in a year or two there would be an overwhelming preponderance of aged beasts in Ireland. In this connection use should be made of the report which was furnished by two British Agriculture Economists, who visited Ireland some little time ago and reported to the Ministry of Agriculture. In the case of eggs it was decided that the Minister for Agriculture would press for an increase in the amount of the bonus. It was agreed that the offer in regard to turkey prices was satisfactory.

The Taoiseach indicated that so far as the trade and supplies items were concerned, he agreed with the conclusions that had been submitted in a note by the Minister for Industry and Commerce. The gist of this note was that the arrangement in regard to coal was satisfactory subject to an effort being made to have the starting date advanced slightly. The proposal in regard to textiles was also agreed as reasonable in all the circumstances but there was general agreement that in regard to the question of admitting Irish goods into Britain the British attitude was most unreasonable and inconsistent with the trade agreement. The Minister for Industry and Commerce indicated that he would challenge the British attitude in this matter. The existence of the agreement was embarrassing at present to us because we respected its provisions in so far as they relate to the setting up of tariffs for the protection of new industries. The British, on the other hand, ignored the agreement in so far as they had obligations to give free entry to our goods. The Minister for Agriculture expressed apprehension that the denunciation of the agreement might be prejudicial to a satisfactory outcome of the present and any continuing negotiations there might be on cattle prices and other matters relating to agriculture. The Minister for Industry and Commerce pointed out that no benefits flowed to Irish agriculture under the agreement at present because the clauses in the agreement which referred to our agricultural products lapsed some years ago. It was decided after some further discussion that the question of denouncing the agreement would not be raised.

The Minister for Industry and Commerce also pointed out that in so far as the question of dovetailing our productive capacity with that of the British was concerned there had been no evidence in the talks at official level of any serious intention on the part of the British to get down to brass tacks on this issue. He indicated that he would press for an immediate meeting at official level in regard to the cases in which it had been suggested that there was scope for immediate co-operation, i.e. textiles and hosiery.

The Minister for Finance submitted to the meeting a revised estimate of minimum US dollar requirements, as agreed upon between the Departments of Finance, Industry and Commerce and Agriculture, and excluding a variety of Canadian purchases included in earlier estimates. The estimate showed a total of £10 mill. of US dollars (net), on the assumption that 150,000 tons of wheat would be obtained from Australia instead of from the dollar area; if this amount of wheat were to be obtained from the dollar area the net total of the estimate would have to be increased to £12 mill. US dollars. After discussion of the estimate, in the light of the general view taken of the British offer as a whole, it was agreed that the target figure for Ireland's minimum requirements of US dollars to be mentioned at the meeting with the British Ministers should be £14 mill., subject to the understanding that this figure would be reduced to £12 mill., if the required quantity of wheat could be obtained from Australia.