Letter from Charles Bewley to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)¹

When I was received by the Secretary of State this morning, he referred first to Mrs. McNeill's² audience, and went on to say, 'Elle a touché le point en parlant d'un Nonce; le Saint Père me l'a raconté'. I expressed the hope that the Pope had not been displeased at the reference. The Cardinal said, 'On the contrary', and asked me what answer the Pope had given. I told him, and then proceeded to speak of the question of sending an Apostolic Delegate instead of a Nuncio, pointing out that for Ireland it would produce an extremely grave situation. I said that there were rumours current both in Ireland and at Rome that an Apostolic Delegate would be sent, and repeated that the Minister had been so disquieted that he had sent for me to Geneva and that he was excessively anxious for definite information, as such an appointment would be regarded as a slight. The Cardinal said that he did not think there was any question of sending an Apostolic Delegate, but there was need of time to appoint a Nuncio and that he would speak to the Pope again. I asked if he could give me some definite information as to the date, reminding him that the notice had appeared in the 'Osservatore Romano' in May, and that in July he had told me it might be a matter of months but certainly not of a longer period, and that months had now elapsed without any certainty being reached. The situation was particularly serious because the assurance given by the Holy See had appeared in the Irish Press, and the failure to send a Nuncio would therefore be looked on as a slight to the country. I went on to say that I was afraid that the delay would be construed as unwillingness on the part of the Holy See to recognise the Irish Free State and the treaty between England and Ireland, and that there were people who would not hesitate to try to make even the Holy See an instrument of their political theories. There were even attempts at propaganda suggesting that the Holy See was unwilling to recognize the Irish Free State as long as it did not include the six counties. I pointed out the deplorable effects from every point of view if any pretext was given for the suggestion that the Holy See approved or gave encouragement to such an attitude. The Cardinal said that he did not think there was difficulty as regards the North. I then made reference to the Irish Bishops in the hope that the Cardinal would say something to give me a clue to his attitude in their regard (I cannot recollect my exact words), but he did not do so. I then repeated that the Government would consider it a disaster if a Nuncio was not sent without undue delay. The Cardinal assured me that he would speak to the Pope. I asked if I might communicate to the Minister that I would be in a position to send definite information next week, but he would only repeat that he would speak again to the Pope.

I am rather at a loss to reconcile the Cardinal's fairly definite denial of the intention to send an Apostolic Delegate with the indication given by Mgr. Pisani, especially as the Cardinal appears to have spoken on the question with the Pope Himself. It is possible of course that Pisani's information is some weeks old, and that the project may have been dropped when it was seen that the Government was so strongly opposed. On the other hand, it is also possible that, while Gasparri would be willing to make an appointment, the Pope Himself is making difficulties (I suggest this because Pisani apparently reported to His Holiness in person about Ireland). I shall try to find out more from Pisani, who is coming to lunch on Monday with Mrs. McNeill.

Dr. O'Gorman returned this week, and came to tea with me yesterday afternoon. He had not heard any talk of an Apostolic Delegate, though he was informed by one of the clerical hangers-on of the Irish College that the Pope had no intention of making any appointment. I asked him whether he thought that British influence was being exerted in any way; he replied emphatically that he did not. As our conversation was interrupted by another visitor, I did not have the opportunity of discussing matters fully with him, but hope to do so when he returns from the country where he has gone for the week-end.