Handwritten letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Frank Aiken (Dublin)
(Confidential) (Secret)

The Nuncio¹ has been here since Thursday morning 31st January. I have given two lunches and one reception (about 160 priests) for him. The functions took in most of the dignitaries (including Montini), and all the Irish priests (not students) in Rome. Of course I also had the top Americans.

His speech is excellent and there will be a couple of sentences in Irish at the end. I shall see that a copy is sent immediately.

I hope you are not worried about his delay in arrival. He has a great many things to do here, get new clothes, discuss diocesan matters with the Vatican and, as he knows a very good American doctor here, he intends having a good overhaul.

I am certain you and the Taoiseach will like him. He is a fine fellow with no humbug about him. I am, of course, briefing him on all points including the odd ways of our friend J.C., the topics to avoid, Dipl. Corps milieu, etc.

He will bring about that link with the American hierarchy which is so necessary for our Bishops. He understands perfectly how foolish it is for Bishops in general to come onto the political scene, especially when they know that the authorities are as careful as is compatible with circumstances, in all matters with a moral or Xtian sociological connotation. You may feel absolutely secure that you can talk to him with the most complete trust on all matters. It is an immense relief to have an American Irish Nuncio, who has such a clear idea of our needs and aspirations and such a robustness of character and outlook. He is very Irish and looks very Irish. You may look forward to the bad times ahead without any worries at least from the Church angle so long as Mgr. O’Hara is with us. I told him all about the neutrality situation in the last war, and our intention to be neutral in the next. He will not put his foot out an inch – he really wants what you and the Taoiseach want, but you should have an early and good long talk with him to show him all the aspects of the situation. Of course, he regards Communism as the greatest enemy of Civilisation and he takes strong views about the need of Am. action if R. keeps in too long with the fooling. With that in mind you will know what you will have to explain. The task is not difficult. He is first of all a great Churchman and arguments in favour of our thesis should have that in view. He would never oppose our view once properly understood.

So far that is my view. I advise you to have your chat before the B[ishop]s whose secret views I told you.