Minute from Frederick H. Boland to Leo T. McCauley and Sheila G. Murphy (Dublin)

In the course of his conversation with the Minister on the morning of the 18th December, Mr. Krishna Menon said that the Indian Government were anxious to establish diplomatic relations with Ireland. For reasons of economy, and because they were short of personnel, they would like to do this, in the first instance at least, by accrediting their High Commissioner in London jointly to the Irish Government in the capacity of Minister Plenipotentiary. It might be that this arrangement would be accompanied by the establishment of a separate Chancery in Dublin in charge of a junior officer, but Mr. Menon said that he could not say this definitely as he had yet to report to his Government and receive their instructions.

The Minister told Mr. Menon that we would be very glad to have direct diplomatic relations with India and, in view of the reasons referred to by Mr. Menon, he thought that the joint accredition arrangement would be suitable. He hoped that the Indian Government would decide to have a separate Office in Dublin. He understood the reasons Mr. Menon had mentioned because, for the same reasons, he could hold out no prospects of our sending a representative at any time foreseeable in the future to New Delhi. Mr. Menon said that that would be understood.

Mr. Menon said that, if the proposals he had made were acceptable to the Irish Government, he would suggest that there would be a simultaneous announcement by both Governments on the 10th January. After some discussion, it was agreed that the announcement might be in the following terms:-

'To maintain and strengthen the friendly relations already existing between them, the Government of India and the Government of Ireland have agreed to exchange diplomatic missions.'

The Minister said that, subject to the views of the Government, which he would, of course, wish to consult on the matter, he thought that this text would be suitable. It was understood that the announcement, if agreed upon, would be issued here on the 10th January at a time corresponding to 8 p.m. GMT in New Delhi - i.e., about lunch-time.