Letter from John A. Costello to Éamon de Valera (Dublin)

Dear Mr. de Valera,
I am much obliged for your letter of the 15th instant¹ and appreciate your refraining from putting down a Motion in deference to my wishes.

Questions arising from the subjects of nationality and citizenship have been frequent causes of friction between nations. I am anxious, while asserting and maintaining to the full our precious heritage of Irish Nationality, that nothing should be said or done which might endanger the advances already gained in connection with the Bill now before the British Parliament.

I am fully aware that you made your attitude to the Bill quite clear. We have also made clear to the British Government our views in relation to the Bill. The Minister for External Affairs, Mr. MacBride, has recently stated to the Dáil the Government's attitude.² The Estimates for the Department of External Affairs will come before the Dáil next week and I hope you will concur in our view that the discussion on those Estimates will give the best opportunity for the Minister to re-state our views and for deputies generally to express their views.