800.515/6–1345: Telegram

The Minister in Ireland (Gray) to the Secretary of State

142. Yesterday Brit colleague9 told me he had been informed question of transferring interned German military personnel and Axis spies now in Eire being discussed with you by Brit Embassy Washington. These categories he said were distinct from categories contemplated in your cirtel June 96 and your 102.10 Proposal was that [Page 789] he was to be instructed to make Brit approach to Irish Govt in this sense. He had in fact already made tentative informal exploration and was confident of Irish cooperation. He was also instructed to discuss matter with this Legation. I told him that thus far we had received no instructions re this proposal but would make recommendations to you as follows: Namely, that I saw no American reason for objecting to single-handed approach by Britain, especially in view of fact that certain of the known spies in custody were Brit subjects, but there was one condition that I would recommend you not to waive under any circumstances: To wit that Irish Govt release both enemy agents and interned military personnel and not simply the latter. The reason for this is that our intelligence should have full opportunity to grill the two known German parachutists Gosrz [Görtz], who was at large in Eire 18 months and Marchner, 6 weeks protected by Irish pro-German elements. I told him that I had positive confidential information that Irish Govt was very anxious to get rid of internees who are causing more serious trouble each day and cost not less than $200 a day. It may be assumed that Irish Govt will not willingly let us have the parachutists; consequently, they should be included or we should not accept internees. He said he was in accord with this and would not accept internees without enemy agents also. I asked him why not let matter ripen to point where Irish would ask us to take these people away. He said political considerations in Parliament made action on part of his Govt almost imperative. I questioned this but, of course, could not press dissent.

Proposal in your 102, June 11 and in above-referred-to circular while doubtless applicable to other neutral countries, we fear would only lead to another refusal here. It would be unfortunate for us to take lead in this matter and get no results. Suggest, therefore, you consider joining repatriation of military internees with proposals in your 102 and circular June 9. Otherwise we have little chance of getting anything but another snub and giving Mr. de Valera11 another chance to make political capital as upholder of right of asylum. The only card we have except economic pressure, which we think would be unwise unless endorsed by all United Nations and carried through to end, is the nuisance value of those disorderly and expensive internees.

Our idea would be to wait for proposals from Irish and then make these conditions ourselves instead of having de Valera make them.

If you should approve urging the joining of all categories into one negotiation to be timed as local conditions might indicate, it is better that it should not stem from me as I did not mention possibility to Maffey.

Gray
  1. Sir John Maffey, British Representative in Ireland.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Same as telegram 991, June 11, to Spain, supra.
  4. Eamon de Valera, Irish Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs.