740.00116 EW/10–1044: Telegram
The Minister in Ireland (Gray) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 11—8:58 p.m.]
168. Supplementing my 164.65 Further consideration of Mr. De Valera’s reply to our request for assurances as to the harboring of Axis war criminals confirms us in the view that we have received no assurances. We are told we must trust the Irish Government to act with reference to the dictates of justice and charity and to the nation’s honor and interests. Since there is no recognized international procedure for securing justice in these cases the Irish Government must be the judge of the cases that may come before it. There is, however, no doubt that the Irish Government hopes to have its answer accepted as satisfactory. Walshe of External Affairs has told me it is intended to mean ac[ceptance?]. He has told Maffey the same.
Last week in reply to a question in the Dail asking whether requests for assurances had been made to Eire and if so what had been the reply Mr. De Valera promised an answer within a week or two. It is probable that his reply to us has been framed with this in view. It is possible that he has had access to the Swiss answer which you pronounced satisfactory and has drawn his reply as closely as possible along its lines. If you announce his answer as satisfactory he will probably read the memorandum in the Dail and show how he has completely safeguarded Irish freedom of action. If you pronounce it unsatisfactory he will also read his reply and show how reasonable it is and how far it goes toward complying with our request. It is an adroit paper and he doubtless feels that we have stepped into a trap. If you should make no pronouncement about it for the time being I do not think it would prejudice our position here.