Memorandum for Government by the Department of External Affairs

Last January, 1949, the Minister for External Affairs circulated to the Government proposals concerning certain steps which he deemed essential in relation to publicity and development of trade.¹ These proposals were agreed to in substance by the Government, the details to be discussed by the Minister for External Affairs and the Minister for Finance. The Minister for External Affairs begs to refer to this Memorandum.

2. Since this Memorandum was placed before the Government by the Minister for External Affairs, the situation has developed rapidly and is now of extreme urgency.
3. In addition to the proposals contained in this Memorandum, the Minister for External Affairs considers that certain further and additional measures should be taken.
4. Official News Agency: Practically every country in the world has an official News Agency. Such Official News Agencies vary in extent and scope.

   For our purposes, the function of such a News Agency should be to furnish to the press of the world, having particular reference to Great Britain, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa:-

   • Information of a general nature concerning Ireland, calculated to advertise Ireland from a Tourist and Trade point of view;
   • News of an Official or semi-Official nature, in accordance with Ireland's Foreign Policy, and with special regard to Partition.
5. General Publicity: From a Trade and Tourist point of view, the aim of the news items circulated should be to create interest in Ireland; direct propaganda as such will not be published by newspapers, but carefully selected news items of international interest would be published. Like all modern publicity, the aim would be to get Ireland's name mentioned in the press of the world as frequently as possible. To achieve this purpose, the type of news items visualised would include:-
   • Interviews with prominent foreigners passing through Shannon, or on holidays in Ireland. (Political personages, scientists, writers, Film Stars, etc.).
   • Reports of international gatherings held here. There are quite a few of these but they are seldom exploited from a publicity point of view. (Medical, Scientific, Archaeological, Literary).
   • Reports on cultural matters: theatre, literature and art.
   • Religious news. There is quite a big field open owing to the large number of Irish priests and nuns throughout the world.
   • Special events such as Horse Show and Spring Show.
   • Reports on social and economic developments.
6. Partition and Policy: The political news bearing on Ireland's policy should include reports of important pronouncements on Partition, Council of Europe, C.E.E.C., and Foreign Policy generally. Apart from Government announcements, reports from the 'Diplomatic Correspondent' of the Irish News Agency would be of considerable value. The view points of Governments throughout the world are always expressed through the views of 'Diplomatic Correspondents'.

   While the aim of the Official News Agency would be to disseminate Irish news abroad, the views of the 'Diplomatic Correspondent' would be of considerable help at home, and could be quoted by our own newspapers. The need for such a medium is constantly felt. At present, the only method of counteracting hostile propaganda from Britain is by means of speeches and interviews. Very often the opportunities are not present for the making of a speech or the giving of an interview at the psychological moment. Very often, too, the views it is desired to convey could be much more readily and satisfactorily conveyed through a semi-Official spokesman or 'Diplomatic Correspondent'.

7. To a large extent, the type of news and information which would be issued by the Irish News Agency would be similar to the matter to be broadcast by the Shortwave Radio Station. Therefore, the News Agency could also be the source of the news to be broadcast from the Shortwave Station. There should also be co-ordination and exchange of facilities with Radio Éireann.
8. The matter issued by the News Agency should be strictly non-party and non-political in the sense that it should only deal with matters of foreign policy and matters that are non-contentious at home.
9. The structure of the News Agency would be as follows:-

   Control: It should not form part of the Civil Service, but should be run by a small Government-subsidised Company. This would obviate the difficulties that might arise in other countries if the News Agency were run directly by the Government. Besides, the staff would have to be drawn from persons who are: outside the Civil Service; Civil Servants would not be suitable for this work and the Civil Service would strangle it.

   The Director would be a Government nominee and there should be an Advisory Board consisting of the Editors or representatives from the Irish Daily Newspapers.

   Dublin Staff: In addition to the Director, the staff in Dublin should comprise three sub-editors and a 'Diplomatic Correspondent'. The news could be obtained by arrangement with Radio Éireann and the daily newspapers.

   The function of the Sub-editors would be to select and re-write the copy for issue. This would have to be done with particular regard to the destination of the news - e.g. every movement and utterance of an Australian Minister here is news in Australia but not in the U.S.; the visit of 1,000 Bostonians is front-page in Boston but not elsewhere.

   The 'Diplomatic Correspondent' would in effect be the Government spokesman and propagandist. His task would be to constantly publicise in the form of news the Government's policy on Partition. He should work under the direction and in close collaboration with the Department of External Affairs.

An office in New York and London would be required for the purpose of receiving and re-transmitting the copy issued from Dublin. The function of these offices would be:-

London: To transmit to all British newspapers and news agencies with offices in London the copy issued from Dublin as soon as it is received. This would cover most of Europe, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and India. The work of the office would be purely mechanical work of duplicating and dispatching the news items according as they are received.

New York: The work of the New York office would be somewhat similar in relation to the American Continent. It would have to maintain regular contact with the principal newspapers and principal news agencies.

The staff of the London and New York offices should consist of a Manager, who should be a Journalist and two competent Typist-Clerks with good duplicating facilities. In addition, messenger facilities for delivery of copy may be required, unless use is made of local messenger service.

Cost: The total cost should not exceed £20,000. At the beginning no revenue should be expected. But once the agency is properly established and working it should be possible to obtain a revenue for Special Coverage.