Letter from Seán Nunan to John J. Hearne (Washington DC)
(Most Secret) (Copy)

In 1951, the Military Intelligence people here received an approach from the Director of the CIA suggesting that a representative be posted to the American Embassy here. It was decided at that time that this would not suit the Defence authorities so nothing further developed.

Last November, Colonel Callanan, who is now Director of Intelligence, had a visit from a Mr. de Bardeleben, the CIA representative attached to the US Embassy in London.¹ Referring to the 1951 approach, he said that his Director, Mr. Allen W. Dulles, was anxious to establish liaison between our respective Military Intelligence officers but this time the suggestion was that this could be done by periodic visits to this country by one of their men posted to Europe. It was emphasised that they were not interested in Military Intelligence as such and that activities would be confined entirely to 1) counter-espionage and 2) Communist subversive operations. Mr. Dulles would write to our Minister seeking our agreement to this proposal.

Defence were disposed to agree to the approach for certain reasons to their own advantage and particularly in order to avoid the possibility of the previous idea of appointing a man to the Dublin Embassy being revived.

The Minister duly received Mr. Dulles’ letter, which was handed to him by Mr. Taft, and replied agreeing to the establishment of liaison and suggesting that the CIA representative should get in direct touch with Colonel Callanan.²