Letter from Thomas J. Kiernan (for T.A. Smiddy) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

With reference to your note of March 25th (No. 32/156)¹ addressed to the High Commissioner, I am directed by the High Commissioner to state that he is puzzled to know what is the explanation for this and your previous communication of the 8th March,² and why he is restricted to communicating with the Secretary of the Department and not with the Minister as has been the practice in the past. The High Commissioner here has always taken the line of dealing only with persons of ministerial rank in London, and it is anomalous if he is precluded from communicating with his own Minister or if he is restricted generally in the manner suggested in your two letters.

The change suggested in the signature of the Secretary is not understood, and I am to request an explanation. The Secretary signs letters which are written under the direction of the High Commissioner, just as the Secretary of a Department in Dublin signs as directed by the Minister.

The High Commissioner notices that letters from headquarters to him are signed by Mr. Walshe without description and by Mr. Murphy without description, and he thinks it desirable, since the matter has been raised by you, to have a general arrangement adopted on some basis which can be clearly understood.