Letter from Desmond Cochrane to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)

Dear Mr. Boland,
I enclose a paper on the subject of the Comité Catholique de Secours pour la Palestine, sent to me by Father Eugene Hoade¹ who is probably already known to you. He is the superior of the Franciscan Convent of Gethsemani and although he probably has a British Passport, he is a man who has our interests very much at heart.

The question of the refugees of Palestine is one of the extreme seriousness and I know that if the Government could see its way to providing further help, however little it may be, it would be most enormously appreciated. When the Minister spoke to me on the subject of the 200 tons of potatoes which we are sending in reply to Count Bernadotte's appeal, I got the impression that this cause had his sympathy and that further help might be forthcoming.² Accordingly, I would be most grateful as would be thousands of starving refugees were this matter to have favourable consideration. Perhaps at the same time you would be good enough to let the Minister know that the Authorities here working for the Disaster Relief Project were very pleased and touched by the quick and helpful reply the Minister sent to the late Count Bernadotte's appeal.³