611.41D31/38
The Irish Minister (MacWhite) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Irish Free State are anxious to enter into discussions with the Government of the United States with a view to the conclusion of an agreement to regulate future commercial relations between the two countries.
The Irish Free State purchases of American goods are valued at about £2,000,000 annually, against American purchases of Irish Free State goods of only about £120,000. I feel sure that the United States Government will agree that a basis of trade which has resulted in so sharp a disproportion in exchanges calls for readjustment, and it is with the object of exploring how best a more even balancing of trading accounts could be achieved that the Irish Free State propose discussions. On its part, the Irish Free State Government desire to arrive at an agreement which would give to Irish Free State goods on entering the United States such favourable conditions of entry and other facilities as would ensure a certain definite increase in exports to the United States market in the products set out in the annex hereto.3
I have been instructed to open discussions with the representatives of the American Government, and in particular to obtain your views in principle on the proposals. The Irish Free State Government are confident that it will be possible to reach a mutually satisfactory solution which will cement still further the bonds of friendship and goodwill which have always existed between the American and the Irish people.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩