Extract from minutes of a meeting of the Cabinet
(Cab. 4/86)

Proposed Visit of British Fleet to Cobh

The Minister for External Affairs informed the Cabinet that he had received an intimation from the High Commissioner in London, Prof. Smiddy, that it was proposed that a small unit of the British Atlantic Fleet should pay an informal visit to Cobh during the coming summer and that the intention was the visit would be proceeded with unless strong objections were made by the Saorstát Government.

The Minister for External Affairs was authorised to inform Prof. Smiddy in suitable terms that the Government would prefer that the visit should not take place.