Letter from Ernest Blythe to Patrick McGilligan (Dublin)

A Chara,

With reference to our recent conferences on the subject of the higher staff of the Department of External Affairs, I have given further very careful consideration to the proposals for increase.

   I am quite in agreement with you as to the need for upgrading the salaries of the two higher posts - of the Secretary and of the person second in charge. Mr. Walshe as Secretary at present has £760 per annum on the scale rising from £600 to £800. Allowing full recognition to all the arguments in favour of giving him a status appropriate to his position I think his case will be fairly met if he is now given a salary of £1,000 per annum with the understanding, which will be placed on record in my Department, that this salary will be increased to £1,200 after say three years from the date on which he was formally appointed by the Executive Council as Secretary of the Department. The salary of £1,000 per annum will be made to run from this latter date.

In the case of the second post I think a scale of £600 - 20 - £800 per annum with the title of Principal would be reasonable for Mr. Seán Murphy whose present pay is £500 per annum.

It is necessary that agreement be reached in regard to these salaries very soon or the issue of the volume of estimates will be delayed.