Letter from Thomas J. Kiernan to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)
(D/6/1) (D/6)

The Australian Parliament reassembled on the 9th February, 1949, for a six weeks' session and I was interested to get reactions from members of the different parties on the new position created by the Republic of Ireland Act. It seems clear that the attitude, all round, to Ireland is unchanged by the legislation. The Labour members are all very friendly about it. They have no natural or spontaneous affection for the Crown but regard it as an important unifying force and altogether essential for Australia; and have no difficulty in understanding the different historical background in Ireland and the objectivity and absence of rancour in our declaring the Republic. The Liberal members, who are almost all personally friendly to Ireland, take the Imperial view, that we are a disruptive element, incapable of defending ourselves, and dependent on Britain for defence; but when the Australian analogy vis-à-vis the United States of America is put to them they do not attempt to argue the point. They do not want to be convinced and would take a simple 'Britain is always right, right or wrong' attitude no matter what we did. But, on the whole, there is very little interest shown in our declaration of the Republic.

I found, evidently as a result of our keeping all the members informed of the Six County activities, much more interest in the Northern Elections. I explained in private conversation with many groups of members, up to an early hour this morning in the coffee-room, how unconvincing the results would be, on account of the out-of-date register and the gerrymandering of constituencies; but many members are awaiting with interest the total figures for the entire area as evidence of the proportion between the for and against partition voting. It seems that the circulation of information from the Legation to the members is of much practical value, if to some of only negative value, to prevent misguided statements. Most of the members to whom I spoke expressed appreciation of the circular information supplied to them. It will be useful to follow it up and keep at it with short factual reports which can be quickly seized and, though thrown into the basket, will leave an impression in the members' minds.