Letter from Seán MacBride to Dr. Herbert V. Evatt (London)
(Secret)

My dear Dr. Evatt,
Thanks ever so much for the message you gave McGilligan and Dulanty about the C.R.O. 'handout' on last Sunday. We knew here, of course, that you would not have countenanced tactics of that kind. It had a very bad effect and has raised a good deal of justifiable indignation here, which is not particularly helpful.

I gather that while we were actually meeting in Chequers, Mr. Noel-Baker's Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Gordon Walker, was holding a press conference in London at which the material on which was based this hostile propaganda was fed out to the press of the world. Before the meeting took place, we were specially requested by the C.R.O. not to let the newspapers know anything about it. At the end of the meeting, you will remember, we agreed on a carefully worded press release on the clear understanding that nothing else would be said. We also had a discussion as to the time at which the press release should be issued. Not the slightest indication was given by the British that they had already summoned the press of the world and were pumping out propaganda.

I do not think that Mr. Attlee, for whom I have the highest personal regard, can have been aware that this press conference was being held while we were still in Chequers. I find it difficult to believe, however, that everybody at Chequers was unaware of it; the press conference was held by the Parliamentary Secretary to the C.R.O. It seems difficult to believe that a Parliamentary Secretary would, on a Sunday afternoon, call a press conference on a matter of such importance, without some direction.

The C.R.O. 'handout' got very wide publicity, not merely here, but abroad; we have received some enquiries from Australia, where it also received wide publicity. I confined myself to saying: 'The discussions were cordial and revealed a general desire on the part of the British and Commonwealth representatives to examine constructively any problems which may arise following the repeal of the Act'.

We reported to our Cabinet yesterday and, following upon the meeting, have sent a note which you probably will have already received.¹ At the end of the Chequers meeting, the situation was left somewhat in the air, and, as there was no indication as to whether we would have further meetings or not, we felt it better to clarify our attitude.

I hope that you will agree with our note; the intention is that it should constitute a declaration of our desire to continue the exchange of citizenship and trade preference rights and privileges.