Letter from Michael Rynne to Josephine McNeill (The Hague)

With reference to your letter of 21st September, 1953,¹ and enclosure, we feel that it might on the whole be wiser if you found yourself unable, because of other engagements, to accept the invitation to the European Movement Congress to be held from the 8th to the 10th October. This body is very ‘vocal’ and publicity conscious, and would certainly advertise the fact of your presence, thus suggesting an interest on the part of the Irish Government in the aims of the Congress, viz., the arousing of public opinion in favour of the creation of a European Political Community. As you know, we have hitherto been on the side of voluntary co-operation in Europe rather than of federation in supra-national authorities.

The European Movement is a non-governmental body and operates through National Councils in almost every Western European country except Ireland. The Movement is at present trying to get Dr. Donal O’Sullivan² to set up a national council here and he informed us recently that he had received an invitation to attend the forthcoming meeting in The Hague with a representative of Irish youth. The expenses of the representatives would be borne by the Movement. Dr. O’Sullivan hopes to attend the meeting, possibly with Deputy Declan Costello³ or some other representative of the Irish branch of the European Youth Campaign.