Letter from William J.B. Macaulay to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(45/25/29) (Copy)

I am directed by the Minister Plenipotentiary to enclose herewith confirmation of Cablegram No. 93¹ sent you on the 8th instant, and to transmit herewith a Note dated the 10th of May,² addressed to The Secretary of State in connection with the Tariff Bill now before the United States Congress.

Representations have already been made in the most effective quarters with a view to some effort being made towards resisting any increase in the tariff on our woollen goods and woollen tissues, as it was realized long since that there was not the slightest possibility of a reduction. The Tariff Bill, of which I am sending you a copy, indicates that such fears were well founded as the duty is increased on these articles. There is a movement in certain quarters to increase the tariff on mackerel and I am doing everything possible to make a case against such an increase. I have some hope that this will not take place but the situation here politically is such that the Senate is more likely to make still further increases in the rates than to lower any of them.

It is pointed out that the tariff question follows practically entirely on party lines and with the present Republican majority in Congress it is only to be expected that those in favour of no increase will find themselves in the minority.