701.4111/487
The British Ambassador (Howard) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty’s Government have come to the conclusion that it is desirable that the handling of matters at Washington exclusively relating to the Irish Free State should be confided to a Minister Plenipotentiary accredited to the United States Government. Such a minister would be accredited by His Majesty The King to the President of the United States and he would be furnished with credentials which would enable him to take charge of all affairs relating only to the Irish Free State. He would be the ordinary channel of communication with the United States Government on these matters.
Matters which are of Imperial concern or which affect other Dominions of the Commonwealth in common with the Irish Free State will continue to be handled as heretofore by this Embassy.
[Page 247]The arrangements proposed by His Majesty’s Government would not denote any departure from the principle of the diplomatic unity of the Empire. The Irish Minister would be at all times in the closest touch with His Majesty’s Ambassador and any question which may arise as to whether a matter comes within the category of those to be handled by the Irish Minister or not would be settled by consultation between them. In matters falling within his sphere the Irish Minister would not be subject to the control of His Majesty’s Ambassador nor would His Majesty’s Ambassador be responsible for the Irish Minister’s actions.
In communicating to you these proposals, which His Majesty’s Government trust will promote the maintenance and development of cordial relations between the British Empire and the United States, I have been instructed to express the hope that the United States Government will concur in the appointment of an Irish Free State Minister at Washington on the footing I have indicated above. As regards questions such as the precedence to be attributed to the Irish Minister or any other points which the United States Government may desire to raise in connection with the appointment, His Majesty’s Government will await the views of the United States Government.
I have [etc.]