Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Cabinet
'Schedule' Aide Mémoire from the Irish Government to the British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Governments
(GC 5/41) (Item 1) (S14387)

The Irish Government has had under consideration the report from Mr. MacBride and Mr. McGilligan of the informal discussions which took place on Sunday, 17th October, at Chequers, between them and representatives of Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Irish Government welcomes the frank and friendly nature of the discussions.

The Irish Government notes with deep appreciation the desire of the Commonwealth representatives who participated in the discussions to maintain the close relations of friendship with Ireland and to continue the exchange of citizenship and trade preference rights that have hitherto existed between Ireland and the Nations of the British Commonwealth. As already indicated, it is the earnest desire of the Irish Government to continue this relationship.

The position of the Irish Government is that, while Ireland is not a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, it recognises and confirms the existence of a specially close relationship arising, not only from ties of blood and kinship, but from traditional and long established economic, social and trade arrangements based on common interest between Ireland and the Nations that form the British Commonwealth.

The Irish Government takes the view that this relationship can and should be maintained on the basis that the rights and privileges involved, in so far as they are not covered by international agreements, are dependent upon long established custom and tradition and do not, therefore, involve the creation of new rights and privileges entitling other nations to raise objections under 'most-favoured-nation' clauses in any existing international agreement.

It is the view of the Irish Government that a relationship with the countries of the Commonwealth firmly based on these factors of tradition, custom and common interest, rather than on forms implying dependence or limitation of sovereignty, offers the best assurance of those relations of mutual understanding and fruitful collaboration which the Irish Government, for its part, is anxious to bring about.

While this Note is addressed primarily to the British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Governments by reason of the special interest these Governments have displayed in relation to the intention of the Irish Government to repeal the External Relations Act, it is, of course, the desire of the Irish Government to maintain a like relationship with the other members of the British Commonwealth of Nations.