Summary of proceedings at Chequers
(Secret) (C.P. 501(25))

Sir James Craig, Mr. Kevin O'Higgins, Mr. McGilligan, Mr. O'Byrne, and Sir John Anderson arrived shortly before noon.

The Prime Minister read to Sir James Craig a letter which he had received from Mr. Cosgrave. Sir James Craig said that the re-adjustment of frontier would mean some re-shuffling in the six counties, and in the re-adjustment he would try to treat the Roman Catholics with as much consideration as possible.

At 12.30 p.m. the Prime Minister conferred with the Free State representatives, and asked them did they wish to see the documents which had been received from the Boundary Commission. Mr. O'Higgins stated that he had refused to accept the documents on the previous evening, but he had no objection to hearing a summary of the figures dealing with the persons and the areas affected. The Prime Minister accordingly read a brief summary.

At 12.40 Sir James Craig entered, and the summary of the proposed transfer of land and people was again read by the Prime Minister. Mr. O'Higgins then made a full statement of the Free State position in regard to the present and the proposed boundary, and directed the attention of Sir James Craig in particular to the disabilities of the Nationalist minority in Northern Ireland.

At 1.20 p.m. Sir James Craig began his reply to Mr. O'Higgins.

At 1.25 p.m. the discussion was adjourned for luncheon.

At 2.30 p.m. the discussion was resumed by Sir James Craig and Mr.O'Higgins alone, and shortly after 3.0 p.m. Sir James Craig saw the Prime Minister with Sir John Anderson and Mr. Jones. Sir James Craig indicated that Mr. O'Higgins had raised the question of Article 5 of the Treaty.

At 4.0 p.m. Sir James Craig saw the three Free State representatives alone.

At 5.0 p.m. it was agreed that Mr. McGilligan should return to Dublin that evening and indicate to the Executive Council the course of the day's discussion.He is to invite Mr. Cosgrave to come to London to meet the Prime Minister and Sir James Craig at a Conference on Tuesday next.

It was agreed to issue the following Press Notice:-

'Conversations in regard to the Irish Boundary were continued at Chequers to-day. In addition to the Irish Free State representatives, Sir James Craig was also at Chequers in consultation with the Prime Minister.'