Exchange of minutes between Brendan O'Riordan,
Conor Cruise O'Brien and Michael Rynne (Dublin)

Dr. Rynne,

With reference to the letter of 24th August opposite from the Director General of the Federated Union of Employers, Dublin, and the memorandum of 26th August circulated by the Political Section (of which a copy is filed opposite) regarding the situation in Cyprus,¹ it is proposed, if you agree, to suggest verbally to Mr. J. O’Brien² that he should – unless his Federation wishes to express its own views on the subject as it is perfectly free to do – confine himself to a simple reply to the Federation of Greek Industries saying that their appeal of 18th August has been brought to the attention of the Irish Government.

This would be in keeping with the line which I understand we have been following for some time past whereby we have avoided broadening our own partition dispute with Britain by dragging in other partition disputes in which Britain is also involved.

Dr. Rynne,

I agree with above. If you agree, however, I think we might indicate to Mr. O’Brien that, if his Union feel like a general expression of sympathy with the Cypriot cause there is no reason why they should not give vent to it. The present Cyprus situation is not unlike the pre-1918 Irish situation – Turkish (Orange) minority and all – and the eventual solution may be similar.