Letter from Timothy A. Smiddy to Seán Lester (Dublin)
(M.P.) (Confidential)

Dear Mr. Lester:

In reply to your letter of October 12th¹ with enclosures relative to the removal of the position of inequality of status which exists between the Minister of the Irish Free State and the British Ambassador, as set forth in the letter of Sir Esme Howard, June 24th, 1924, to the Secretary of State of the United States, I concur that, in consonance with the absolute equality of status of all members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, no delimiting description should attach itself to the title of the Minister of the Irish Free State.

It ought to suffice to have the limitations and functions of his activities expressed by the meaning of the title itself, such as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Irish Free State without any gloss thereon. Possibly, there are some specific cases which might exclude the Minister's interference and consultation 'by right' where even the best personal relationships would not have scope, such as cases of extra-territoriality. Have you in mind cases which this might illustrate, or only the general question of technical equality of status?

My relations with the British Ambassador since my appointment as Minister have been satisfactory, and at no time did they suggest to me any limitations on my functions. Throughout the range of my diplomatic work, I have operated with the same freedom as any other Minister, unconscious of any fetters on my activities. I am of opinion that the personal equation accounts for a great deal in the relations of the British Embassy and the Legation of the Irish Free State.

Sir Esme Howard has always been most considerate about my viewpoints, and when any little matter arose on which I consulted him, he showed the desire to give the question a most liberal interpretation. He always appeared to me more interested in the spirit than in the technicalities of arrangements. Judging from the experience of four years of fairly close contact with him, I cannot well conceive of any difficulty arising as to the limitation of our functions. I have adhered to the instructions laid down by the Minister for External Affairs, 25th of June, 1924,² for my guidance in dealing with the British Ambassador.

You asked me if I know of any case other than the Anglo-American- French Arbitration negotiations - I do not, and I have not seen details of the procedure that led up to the conditions under which the Canadian and Irish Free State representatives signed this Treaty except what appeared in the newspapers. The only cases with the details of which I am familiar are the Halibut Treaty, the Versailles Treaty, and the Disarmament Conference.