Dearg code telegram from John A. Costello to Seán MacBride (Dublin)
(No. 91)

Your 124.¹ For Minister for External Affairs² from Prime Minister. Both understanding and friendly Prime Minister's view is that people with same pattern of life should co-operate and form not essential. His grandfather took part in rebellion against British and wrote the book entitled Lives of One Thousand Irishmen. My line was India, Pakistan, Ceylon and possibly South Africa could co-operate with republic form republic other of the Commonwealth such other retaining crown link there being no necessity for legal bond and none other than mutual respect and co-operation for common ideal. Had long talk with both before I left Ottawa also with Prime Minister Drew Ontario and Massey I emphasized that our proposals were constructive and did not involve disruption of Commonwealth.