Letter from Frederick H. Boland to Joseph P. Walshe (Holy See)
(Copy)

My dear Ambassador,
You will wish to know that it is now pretty certain that the 18th April is to be appointed by the Government as the date for the entry into operation of the Republic of Ireland Act. The 18th April is, of course, Easter Monday, and the intention is that, in future years, Easter Monday, and not 18th April, should be observed as Independence Day.

The fixing of the date of operation of the Act has, of course, a bearing on the question of the appointment of a new Nuncio. Until the 18th April, we have an obvious and convincing explanation for anyone who enquires why the appointment is being delayed; but I imagine that, once the Republic of Ireland Act is in operation, any further delay would risk becoming the subject of comment.