James McNeill to Desmond FitzGerald (Dublin)¹
(Copy)

My dear Minister,

Mr. McDunphy arrived this morning. I went, as usual, to the Dominions office and saw Mr. Amery and the other High Commissioners. We did not discuss Irish matters during the meeting which was at 10.30 and not 11 o'clock as Mr. Amery was going to meet the Boundary Commission at 11 o'clock. We both expressed regret that matters had taken such a grave turn. When leaving I said that I knew he would have to arrive at a decision in this matter and that I hoped he would realise the grave consequences. He thought it was especially regrettable that the existing position should arise when the Commission were on the point of coming to an agreed decision which would have been generally satisfactory.

About 12 o'clock I got a message asking me to call on him at 5.15 this afternoon. I anticipate a stiff communication but of course don't know. Whatever it is it will be received by me as my Government's agent. I propose to indulge in no technical arguments on my own account. I shall say that while I have had no instructions I am sure my Government acted in the interests of peace, and that it had not foreseen the possibility of a transfer of Free State people to Northern Ireland.

When coming away from the meeting at the Dominions office I walked back with Mr. Larkin. He was friendly as usual but his reticence as regards this trouble showed that he had nothing consoling to say. He deplored that the world was full of trouble. We did not refer to the details.

I shall try to see Sir A. Cope.

I write now (3 o'clock) so as to have time to add whatever arises in my talk with Amery.

I have just heard of my brother John's² resignation from the Executive Council. I think that was unavoidable, and I hope it will be helpful. General opinion here seems to be against us. I cannot hear as much as usual directly because my brother's action is of course censured. The publication of the statement by the other two Commissioners has stiffened people here, and I think you may take the 'Times' as expressing considered views in its article to-day. While I do not know what Mr. Amery will say, I fancy it will require patient hearing. With the average man disposed to take the 'Times' view and the Die-Hards ready to back any policy injurious to us I don't know that I can lightly take the 'Irish Times' view, viz. that the safety of the Free State depends on getting some compromise.

I am sorry that you are still having to face such trouble. May I, with deference, suggest that personalities and bitter words be discouraged. I think that with my brother's resignation opinion in Ireland will be mollified and that sensible people will realise that you must be helped and not injured or weakened. Opinion here though hard will possibly be less hostile if new cause of hostility is not created.

LATER.

I saw Mr. Amery and he told me he had gone with Mr. Joynson-Hicks³ to the Boundary Commission to-day. He was told that the report was practically ready and that the two Commissioners thought it would be published by the 1st December. The Commissioners had expressly asked them to come as, they stated, they had asked both Governments to send Ministers originally and wished to meet the British ministers though the Irish ministers were not going to attend. Mr. Amery and Mr. Joynson-Hicks were told the general result of the award but did not see the map as Mr. Amery thought that, however little difference that might make, the map should be disclosed simultaneously to representatives of both Governments. He referred to the despatch of a letter⁴ which you will have got[,] sent this afternoon by the Secretary of the Boundary Commission to your Government.

The British Government hoped that the Free State Government would send[a] Minister to meet Ministers to discuss privately the carrying out of the terms of the award. Mr. Amery hoped that my brother's resignation would be regarded merely as an unfortunate incident and that in the interests of both north and south the Free State Government would have this boundary question settled in accordance with the award in friendly co-operation.

I said that I had no instructions from my Government and know no details. As regards their action I was satisfied that they had considered that what they had done was necessary to obviate serious danger, and that the proposed award, which I understood differed only slightly from the 'Morning Post' account, surprised my Government utterly. They had, I presumed, to take account of the political fact that in the south as well as in the north there would be strong feeling at the suggested transfer of any people to Northern Ireland. He said the same might be said of the Northern Ireland people. I told him that without wishing to raise over again the boundary controversy I thought it was a different thing to remove people from their own Government and to alter the boundaries of a local government.

He hoped that either a Minister would come or that I should be authorised to attend Thursday's meeting at the Boundary Commission office. I said the time was very short and that very little time was given to my Government to decide on a very serious question. He explained that this would not be a publication of the award but only a preliminary communication. The date of publication would be later. As regards the date of publication that would rest with the commission. I cannot remember his words but he implied that the Commission might not insist on immediate publication. He dwelt at some length on the legal validity of the award, and quoted the Quebec judgment. He also said that he relied on Northern Ireland to ensure peaceful transfer and hoped that the Free State Government would realise that acceptance of the award by our people would expedite ultimate unification, to which no one here was opposed, and the British Government would benevolently further.

His general attitude was rather friendly. He referred to the President's reference to people in high positions acting improperly as if the British Ministers were referred to. I said that I did not understand the references in that way; that as far as I knew both in words and in mind President Cosgrave recognised the correctness and willingness to help on the part of the Ministry. I added that I thought they referred to members of the House of Lords and others, and that I did so because I should have personally denounced their conduct.

I said I would convey what he said.