Letter from Thomas J. Coyne (for Charles Bewley) to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)

Whilst waiting for my audience with the Secretary of State this morning, I had a long conversation with Mgr. Pizzardo, who asked various questions with regard to the strength of de Valera's party, etc. I took advantage of the opportunity to give him a general review of the political situation, laying emphasis on the fact that de Valera's party intended a repudiation, direct or indirect of the Treaty with England, that any support given to them was therefore particularly dangerous, and that their success might even lead to active hostilities. I also of course pointed out that the vast majority of the people, both partisans of the Government and of Labour stood for the Treaty. Mgr. Pizzardo further asked where de Valera got his money. I said that it came largely from America, and that there was more than a possibility that some of the extreme elements were in receipt of support from Russia, although Labour in general was strongly Catholic and not in the slightest inclined to Bolshevism.

I then met Cardinal Sbarretti, the protector of the Irish College, who expressed surprise at not having seen me at the reception given there on the previous day to the pilgrimage. I thought it better not to enter into the reason for my absence, which would have entailed possibly a lengthy explanation liable to be interrupted at any moment. I gathered however from the Cardinal's question as well as from various other incidents that the Rector and Vice-Rector are not in the habit of explaining either to ecclesiastical authorities in Rome or to Irish persons visiting Rome that they do not recognise the existence of a Legation. In fact, on more than one occasion, when the Vice-Rector has been asked to meet me, he has refused on the ground of overwork.

On being received by the Secretary of State, I remarked that he had had visits from four members of our episcopate during the week. He said that none of them had spoken to him against the appointment of a Nuncio, or indeed referred to it, and asked me, 'Do you know what they said to the Holy Father?' I said I did not, whereupon he said that he would have to find out. He then talked generally about waiting for a favourable moment and made no concealment of the fact that the attitude of the Bishops is the one obstacle. We discussed the Six-Counties question for a short time, but the Secretary of State assured me that this is not a matter in any way affecting the mind of the Pope.

The net result is that the one obstacle to the appointment of a Nuncio is the attitude of the Bishops, and that the Pope is waiting in the hope that this may be modified. It is very hard to predict whether there is any likelihood of his hope being fulfilled, or what will be done in the event of its non-fulfilment. It occurs to me as possible that, in the event of Dr. MacRory being created a Cardinal, his attitude in the question might be important. I do not of course know whether the Government have any opportunity of knowing his views.