Letter from John V. Fahy to Seán Murphy (Dublin)

Dear Murphy,

Attached is a hurried note on the re-organisation scheme.¹ I hope it will help you. I feel that it should not be at all necessary for Civil Servants to stress the importance of adequate places abroad. A strong foreign representation is the best reply to those who belittle the potentialities of the Treaty and also the most potent factor in converting the old Unionist element in this country into something more than ever ready wavers of the Union Jack. What has always surprised me is that the position was not pushed for all it was worth six years ago. A great deal has been done since notwithstanding a hopelessly inadequate staff and the Saorstát is apparently being offered more if it chooses to take it.

As regards recruitment of staff, unless External Affairs insists on strong representation in the selection, Finance Establishment Section will give you what they think the right type of Home Civil Servant who may or may not possess the qualifications (social etc.) really necessary. They have consistently belittled the External Affairs Department, and will find it hard to depart from that attitude. Nothing less than £700-£900 will be any good for the First Secretary of each place because Civil Servants regard the basic scale as of greater importance than Allowances. And the Second Secretary posts should also be pressed mainly for Consular work and deputising for inevitable absences and assistance in times of pressure. Junior Executives or Clericals will not do as Seconds, but most likely you will find that Finance will push them rather than give Junior Administrative Grade men.

At Headquarters, re-organisation is absolutely essential so as to get the most out of the work. The Secretary and the Assistant Secretary must be freed of all detail, the other staff dovetailing up as in all office organisations, lower men collecting all available particulars, getting it into ready form and making recommendations to officers above. Several minor matters now dealt with by the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary could be dealt with by others if we had the staff. Then, at present there is no time to initiate and develop policies or to provide even in a moderate way against emergencies such as visits of foreigners, Delegation to International Assemblies, special League work, etc. Also, the Secretary should have a Private Secretary to save him from the telephone and callers.