Letter from Seán MacBride to Seán Nunan (Washington DC)

My dear Seán,
In the first place I want to thank you very much for all the hard work that you and the boys have been doing in the last few weeks. While I have little time to write letters, or even think, these days I have, nevertheless been fully conscious of the work you have been doing.

My first reaction when Roger Faherty¹ rang me up from Chicago to ask me to go was to decline, as I am very tired and have a mass of work in front of me here. On the other hand I felt that it might be useful for the purpose of explaining our attitude in relation to the Atlantic Pact. From talks I had with Ed Flynn² ('Bronx') I realised the importance of trying to make our attitude understood so as to avoid a repetition of the war time atmosphere, as far as Ireland is concerned, in the U.S.

Further, I think that a real opportunity does offer of getting Partition under discussion at international level. Going over may give me an opportunity of meeting people who may be in a position to influence U.S. policy in this regard.

These reasons made me decide to accept the Chicago invitation. I also have invitations from the Éire Society of Boston for May 14th and another from San Francisco for 21st March.

When 'phoning, Roger Faherty suggested that I should bring somebody with me. On thinking this over I thought that it would be as well to do so. As Minister for External Affairs I shall have to avoid controversial topics - in so far as this is possible when dealing with Ireland - and I felt that it would be useful to have somebody who could explain the position more fully. The decision as to whom to suggest was somewhat difficult. I decided finally on Noel Hartnett³ for three reasons:

• He is the best orator that I know and, I think, would go down in a big way.
• By reason of having been in Fianna Fáil and of not being a T.D. he is more likely to be generally accepted by all sections of Irish-American opinion.
• He is familiar with every aspect of Partition and for a number of years was running a 'Northern Ireland Publicity Bureau'.

The only objection to Noel Hartnett is that he is a member of Clann na Poblachta. However, anybody else I would have brought would have been connected with one or other of the various political parties. Besides, probably the Clann is the Party which is the least controversial in the field of Irish-American politics.

I received a letter from Roger Faherty to-day, copy⁴ of which I enclose herewith. It would, of course, be tremendous if President Truman attended the dinner in Chicago and I hope that they may be successful in securing his attendance.

I do not know yet exactly how long I shall stay or when I shall be able to leave: it depends on a number of things: Dáil Sessions, meeting of Council of O.E.E.C. in Paris and meeting of Council of Europe. I shall try and clear my schedules in a day or two and shall cable you to let you know the exact dates upon which I shall be available.

If at all possible I should like to go, one way at least, by sea in order to get a rest. I literally have not had a day off since 1947 and a few days on a quiet slow old ship would enable me to become human again. If possible, I shall try to arrange to go out by sea so as to have an opportunity of preparing a few speeches on the way.

As to my itinerary in the States, I shall leave this in your hands. I shall do as many meetings as you may think useful or necessary and I will not mind being worked hard. However, it might not be advisable that it should appear to the U.S. Administration that I was seeking to run a campaign or do a regular tour, so you will have to use your judgment carefully on this matter. Noel Hartnett could probably stay on and cover such centres as I may not be able to cover myself, either through lack of time or discretion.

As to calling on the Secretary of State and informing the State Department: act in accordance with your own judgment in this also. I would welcome an opportunity of having a frank and free discussion with the Secretary of State on the whole position in regard to:

• Atlantic Pact and our attitude in relation to it.
• The whole world situation and particularly in regard to Western Europe.

However, it is quite possible that you may find a rather frigid atmosphere among the officials of the State Department, who will, no doubt frown upon the acceptance by me of the invitations to Chicago, Boston etc..

Let me know by cable as soon as you propose to inform the State Department so that I may, at this end, inform the U.S. Legation.