Letter from Leopold H. Kerney to Seán Nunan (Dublin)¹
(Copy)

In articles written by a Mr. Desmond Williams and published in the ‘Irish Press’ on 10th and 11th July, an attempt is made to besmirch the reputation of an Irish diplomat who represented Ireland on the Continent and who had been out of Ireland for a very long time. It is evident that the person so attacked is myself. I shall be guided by legal opinion in deciding whether to take an action for libel against Mr. Williams and the ‘Irish Press’.

In the month of August, 1942, I met in Madrid the Mr. Veesenmayer referred to in these articles and the same day I personally typed out and sent home a lengthy report giving a full account of that conversation.² The immediate publication of that report would clarify the position by setting matters in their true light and might dispense me from the necessity of taking legal proceedings. I believe that such publication would be in the interests, not merely of myself, but also of the Department of External Affairs, of the Government, and of the country.

I, therefore, beg you, as a matter of extreme urgency, to submit to the Minister this pressing request that the Government should at once publish the report in question and that you should let me know at the earliest possible moment whatever decision may be reached.