Aide mémoire from Joseph P. Walshe to Cardinal Pietro Gasparri (Vatican City)

Pro Memoria for His Eminence The Cardinal Secretary of State

The Government of the Irish Free State are not in control of the Emancipation Celebrations. They are not therefore in a position to consider any proposals concerning a special delegate sent for the purpose of participating in the Celebrations. Such proposals should be made direct to the Irish Hierarchy. It would not be possible for the Government to give a State reception to a non-diplomatic Envoy. Furthermore the arrival of a Papal Delegate for the Celebrations just at the time when everybody was expecting the Diplomatic Envoy would only cause confusion and would lead many people to believe that the Holy Father had changed his mind and that there never would be a Diplomatic Envoy. It should also be borne in mind that the general good effect of the ultimate State reception of the Diplomatic Envoy would, in such circumstances, be considerably lessened.

If it appears absolutely impossible to send a Diplomatic Envoy for the 24th June it is better to defer sending any envoy at all until it is possible to send an envoy with a definite diplomatic character, i.e. a Nuncio or Inter-Nuncio.

But it is of the very greatest urgency - in order to calm the minds of our people that an announcement should be made immediately stating the character in which the Envoy will be sent and the approximate date of his arrival. The announcement could take the following form: