Letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)
(Secret)

My dear Secretary,
I was very glad to receive your wire on Sat. telling me that the Uditore had not been to the Depart. since (I assume) the 2nd Oct. It is a great relief for me to feel that M.'s 'abbia pazienza' to me three weeks ago is really the last word we have heard from them. And I can now proceed on the assumption that they are going to meet our requirements ultimately. As I said already, apart from their maximum delay of, in or about, six months, they have the latitude allowed them by the period required to pass our Legislation through the Dáil and Seánad. We should therefore let things lie for the present and give them all the time they require. It will never go so far as to defy explanation. They will not incur the risk of being accused of vindictiveness by us. In due course M. will approach the matter as an nua and I have no intention of opening up on the original false step made by him. Meanwhile he will probably give me some hint when he has made some progress towards a decision.

I have heard nothing further about Mgr. O'Hara and I am not so sure that there was any truth in the rumour which may have arisen from the growing serious situation for the Church in Romania. Rome is a city of incredible rumours, just as bad as Dublin, and I shall only pass them on when they are indicative of something of interest qua rumours.

I realize the overwhelming character of the work now involved in our change of Status, but I hope you will not forget that even the briefest note, occasionally, prevents the discouraging reactions of isolation and promotes unity of purpose between the missions abroad and the home front. If you were in Rome for a year or so you would realize that a little encouragement from home is an essential tonic to keep one's zeal and interest at the right level.