Memorandum by Frank Aiken of a meeting with Sir Walter Hankinson

Sir Walter Hankinson came to see me this morning at 10.30. He had with him an invitation to the Coronation for representatives of the President. He also left with me a private note outlining the arrangements for the representatives depending upon whether it was direct representation from here or by our Ambassador in London.

I said that I could not give him a reply as the matter was linked up with what would happen about the Royal Style and Title. I told him that I had been to see Lord Salisbury and had emphasised to him that I was doing all I could to create conditions under which Partition could be settled quietly and true friendship established between our two peoples.¹

I said to Sir Walter that it would be too bad if anything occurred in connection with the Title which would set back the growth of good relations. That we had every respect for the royal family and recognised that the Crown was an excellent institution for Britain and we did not want to make her Majesty the Queen or the royal family the subject of controversy here.

I went on to say that I realised how sensitive the British people naturally were about any matter which affected the sovereign and did not wish to interfere in the question of the Royal Style and Title beyond pointing out that if certain words were used it would cause acute controversy. We had pointed out that if Her Majesty were called Queen of the United Kingdom without any addition, that phrase, because of its definition in British law, would cover all that was required from their point of view.

At the beginning of the interview Sir Walter made enquiries about the Taoiseach’s health.