Cablegram 248 [1] CANBERRA, 26 September 1944
MOST IMMEDIATE SECRET
Your telegram D.1422. [2]
On the whole we are of the opinion that, as Eire will participate
not only in this but probably other International Conferences, the
advantages of discussing preliminary problems and possibly of
obtaining Eirean support are considerable. We attach importance to
the fact that, during the war, the Irish base of Foynes has been
of such value to the joint war effort.
1 Repeated to the N.Z., Canadian and South African Prime Ministers
as nos 209, 19 and 85, respectively.
2 Dispatched 20 September. On file AA:A989, 44/735/832/12/1. It
requested views of Dominion Govts on the question of inviting Eire
to participate in the suggested Commonwealth talks on civil
aviation, noting that Eire was to be invited to participate in the
projected international discussions, but had not been a party to
the informal Commonwealth talks in October 1943. It noted that
although Eire had rejected co-operation with other Commonwealth
members in the war, the projected discussions were concerned with
postwar arrangements, and the geographic situation of Eire was
important for civil aviation.
[AA:A989, 44/735/832/12/1]
