Robert Brennan to Eamon de Valera
(No. 48) (Copy)

Your letter of April 1^st afternoon re the Count raises an entirely new situation.¹ I understood when taking office I would have nothing to do with him as regards direction of the Department and that I was to regard myself as if I was head of the Department and responsible to you personally and directly.

My sole objection to the new arrangement is that it will make the work of this Department - cumbersome and slow already - practically impossible. Joint direction is bad anytime. It is worse when not strictly defined and in the present circumstances it will mean merely a further brake on the activities of this department already heavily handicapped by slow communication and the absence of direct and immediate touch.

If I am to consult the Count on such things as the 'Address' for instance - not to speak of the representatives going abroad - when do you think it would be sent out? Consultations are out of the question. They would be a useless waste of time on my part and would merely shorten my present period of being at large.

You will understand there is nothing personal in all this. We are best of friends. I only want to avoid clogging machinery, which, as it is, is not running too smoothly, and I think it is best to face the situation squarely.

I return the Count's letter herewith.