Extracts from a handwritten letter from Joseph P. Walshe to
Frank Aiken (Dublin)
(Personal)

I think I should write you a few personal letters to put you au courant with the situation here, so that I may be free to say precisely what I should say in a conversation if I had the opportunity.

In this letter I shall confine myself to the questions most likely to arise in a particular or general way before very long.

The Nuncio. You probably know that I had to keep up a year’s fight with the Vatican on the issue of an Irish-origin appointment versus an Italian appointment. It was not entirely without good results, because it gave me the opportunity of going over with them the bad treatment Ireland had received in the past from the Holy See. But the Holy Father held on to the idea of an Italian Nuncio at all costs, and the Govt. began to fear that the opposition would hint at rows with the Holy See. Some few of the Bishops, too, began to get nervy, perhaps, inspired from here, and so the battle was lost. The Bishops will never again hold out on such ecclesiastical matters, because the whole organisation of the Church has become too centralized and the local Nuncio or Apostolic Delegate is now inclined to treat the Bishops as penny boys. It is no use putting up another fight. If there is a good sensible Italian, not too old, appointed, we may, by little hints and suggestions, succeed in making our Bs a really first class element in the reconstruction of our country, and in strengthening our good relations abroad. I am of the view that the present Holy Father will not give in to pressure on this issue. He knows he can use the Bishops eventually in spite of our opposition. And it is better to get the credit of accepting the name – when it is proposed – at once. Of course our Am. clerical friends would like us to begin the fight all over again. But I doubt if they are ready to push for a non-Italian when the present Apostolic Delegate in Washington leaves. Their policy, conscious or subconscious, has been to make an American, heart and soul, of their Delegates and they can do what they like with him. From all the signs, the HF’s policy is to appoint Italians exclusively and those nearest to Him do not exclude the motive of helping to restore Italian prestige after the defeats and humiliations of the late war.

Cardinals. [matter omitted]

With regard to our own position there has been no hint of preference as between Armagh and Dublin. Seán MacB[ride] spoke definitely against Dublin, but Costello told Montini, in my presence, that his Govt. would not under any circumstances, mention any name, or have anything to do with the appointment of a Cardinal or other Prelate. However, probably the balance has not been quite restored, and it may be that they were influenced by MacB.’s positive opposition to John [Charles McQuaid].

Since Costello’s intervention (July 1950) I have never once mentioned the matter. I am not so sure that we are well out of the business. The Holy See hears plenty from the Bishops and others in Ireland. With regard to recent events, from a remark made to me by Montini, I conclude that they are sorry that there was any publicity about the Bishops’ intervention.

Writing further in a day or two.