Extract from a letter from Frederick H. Boland to Seán Nunan (Washington)

Dear Seán,
I have had it in mind for some time to write to you to express our thanks and appreciation for the fine job the Legation is doing in reporting on the Marshall Plan.

As you know, that type of report rarely calls for any reply, and, therefore, you don't get anything back from us about them. The danger in that case is that our silence might suggest that the reports are not valued and appreciated here. That is why I am writing to you. The reports are excellent. We feel we are as well informed as any Foreign Office in Europe about the position with regard to ERP.¹ We circulate the reports immediately to the other Departments and we know that they are no less impressed by them than we are. It is a fine piece of work and we are indebted to you for all the trouble you are taking.

You can easily imagine we are kept pretty busy here. The change of Government has added to the pressure, which was already considerable. As you know from the telegram we sent you on the 27th ult.,² the inaugural transatlantic flight is off for the moment, and, therefore, none of the Ministers of the Government will be going to the United States for St. Patrick's Day. It was announced in the papers on Saturday that the former Taoiseach will be going to America, however, for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. We have no information for the moment with regard to his precise plans. The Minister is away at the moment, but I hope to have a word with him on his return about what the Legation and the Consulates should do in connection with the visit, and I will then write to you, or wire you, at once.