Letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Patrick McGilligan (Dublin)
(Copy)

Dear Minister,

Bewley and I were entertained to dinner (they call the 12.30 meal in religious houses 'dinner') today by Dr. O'Gorman. As I told you in my last confidential report O'Gorman invited the principal Irish people in Rome amongst them Curran. Curran refused, but in doing so he was rather anxious to show that it might not be taken as indicating a definite attitude towards the Irish Minister. 'It is better to wait a little time' were the words he used. Perhaps Curran is beginning to think that the Irish College might become more isolated than ever, especially as he must have heard that Bewley has been warmly welcomed in all the other Irish centres. Fr. Pacificus, Prior of St. Isidore's, Franciscan, Fr. Nolan, Prior of the Collegio Angelico, Dom., Fr Sylvester, Assistant General of the Capuchins, Fr. Browne, Prior of San Clemente, Dom., Fr. O'Connor, Rector from the English Church of San Sylvestro, Fr. Power, S.J., Biblical Institute, Fr. Cuthbert, Franciscan (author of principal life of Saint Francis), Fr. Duchemin, Rector of Beda College, Sir John O'Connell, Fr. Connolly, Vice-Superior Augustinians (Fr. O'G's college), Mr. Randall, Secretary of the British Legation (Chilton is away), were the principal guests. You will not think it trivial to report on this particular dinner. It has important implications. All the important Irish clergy in Rome were there except Curran. O'Gorman made a very nice speech in which he referred in very enthusiastic language to the historic character of the occasion and to the great pride felt by himself and all the Irish clergy in Rome that the Government had at last (they all say it in good part) established diplomatic relations with the Holy See. He spoke very nicely of the President who had also been entertained in that refectory, and he said he could promise Mr. Bewley on his own behalf and on that of all his Roman colleagues every possible help and cooperation in the work before him. Bewley made a very effective speech in reply: emphasized how much he felt honoured by the privilege given to him by the Irish Government - referred also to the historic moment of the appointment. His speech and the modest way in which he made it was very much appreciated.

These men can become and no doubt will become strong aggressive supporters of the Saorstát here. The mere arrival of the Minister designate has already produced an effect analogous to that produced by the President's visit on the non-vocal Irish in the U.S.A. They feel now that they have a State Representative like all the other nationals in Rome, and even those who are a little Republican like Fr. Pacificus of St. Isidores can see all the advantages of the new position. They feel too that as a body, they will get more credit from the Vatican for their work as Irishmen. In giving this dinner and getting these men together at the first possible opportunity Fr. O'Gorman has given another proof of his loyalty to the Saorstát. We should not forget it to him.

I was sitting next to Fr. Browne (brother of Paddy Browne, Maynooth) Prior of San Clemente. He is a very fine looking ascetic type of man, and I understand from the clergy in general that he is both exceedingly clever and very holy. His views are therefore worth having. He considers the appointment of a Minister to Rome and its corollary, the appointment of a Nuncio to Dublin, to be the very best thing that has happened for the good of the country since the Saorstát was founded. He believes that the moral effect on the entire body of the clergy with the exception of a very small number of Bishops will, in a short time, have for result the development of a definite sense of loyalty to the State which will be passed on to the people. He told me that since the announcement of the exchange of relations with the Holy See a change has taken place amongst the younger clergy especially the student type. He does not think it will be possible for the Vatican to send their Envoy before mid-September as the consistory at which diplomatic promotions are made will not take place until probably early September. He deplores the very radical ignorance (mixed with all kinds of uncertain bits of information) of the Vatican in respect of Ireland and her influence in the English speaking Catholic world. The Pope and Gasparri are particularly bad in this respect - a fact which explains their rather cavalier treatment of us - (even to the extent of postponing Bewley's reception 'till after the 23rd). He believes we have suffered terribly from having no official contact with the Holy Father during these five or six years and that a very different state of things would now exist in Ireland if the Church had been properly cognisant of events. On the other hand, Fr. Browne says that the Vatican have been thinking a great deal about Ireland during the last six weeks and that the withdrawal of their promise to send a Chargé d'Affaires is due to their growing idea of its importance and the consequent need of sending a Nuncio with experience first of all. He fully confirms what I stated in my reports during my last visit here, namely, that the Vatican are delighted to get the opportunity of sending a Nuncio to Dublin and that nothing whatever will deflect them from their purpose now. He believes that their intention is to keep a general control of the Ecclesiastical side in Great Britain from Dublin without, of course, attempting to have any political contact with London (which would at once leave them open to a strong protest from us).

In connection with this conversation with Fr. Browne, I may say that I have tried to show the Vatican authorities that we strongly resent being let down, and I have not accepted any going back on their promises without obliging them to a second or third examination of the question. The old idea of Ireland being a holy but somewhat savage island is not yet dead. They have a feeling that they can treat us as they like, and if I have succeeded in making them reconsider this attitude, my second visit here has done some little good, though it has been so full of painful disappointments. It was quite interesting to note the very sharp contrast with which Great Britain is treated. One day Randall conveyed an invitation from his Government to Gasparri to send a representative to the Postal Conference at London. (You will remember that the Vatican has now its own Post Office). The following day I was with him at an interview with Gasparri in connection with our business - Randall was to be my witness as to definite promises - Gasparri asked him quite blandly what kind of representative they wanted 'A Cardinal! an Archbishop or what'. Randall turned to me and asked me if I knew what sort of representatives went from the different governments. I replied that they were postal officials. The reply did not worry Gasparri. 'We are very grateful to your Government and we shall send anybody you consider proper'. They would have sent a Cardinal to a Postal Conference at the request of the British Government! I am afraid one of our difficulties is going to be to secure that the Cardinal does not consult Chilton on all our affairs. We have a lot to do to educate them in constitutional matters as well as other things.

I have told you in a wire today that they now want to postpone Bewley's reception to the 27th. Monsignore Ottaviani told me yesterday morning that the Holy Father took out his calendar and went through his appointments and found that he could not receive Bewley until after the 23rd, in fact not before the 27th. He suggested at once that my Government could immediately publish a note to this effect to save any feelings of disappointment. I said that my Government had probably already let it be known that the reception would take place before the 23rd, that they would be exceedingly disappointed; it was the second time in the course of ten days that they had good reason to feel that they had not been well treated by the Vatican, etc. He promised to get Pizzardo to go to the Holy Father this (Wednesday) morning to try and arrange for a date before Sunday. I fear there is not much chance of success, but you will have known the result before receipt of this note. Bewley came with me for the first time to the Vatican yesterday. Once the date of reception is definitely fixed I shall leave Rome.