Following personal message for the Minister has been received from
Dignam. [1]

Reference Canberra's 4999, High Commissioner's credentials. [2]

The Irish Government would prefer at least a short formal letter
of introduction signed by the Prime Minister and/or yourself for
presentation at the official ceremony at Dublin Castle followed by
a banquet similar to reception of Foreign Representatives. The
United Kingdom representative here, Sir John Maffey, regards a
letter as objectionable and dislikes the idea even of a ceremony
on the ground of weakening British Commonwealth links to treat a
member in any respect like a foreigner. The Irish view is that
members of the family, and Australia before any, are entitled at
least to the same if not greater status and dignity than an
outsider. In any event, they will accord myself and staff full
diplomatic precedence, privileges and immunity. The recent
Canadian High Commissioner [3] died on arrival before presenting
very formal letters patent of appointment by the King as High
Commission[er] under the Great Seal of Canada signed by the
Governor-General, Secretary of State and Attorney-General. The
document was given to and retained by the Irish Government. A
photostatic copy is being forwarded to you by air. Presumably in
the near future the new Canadian High Commissioner [4] will
present a similar document. As far as I am aware, Maffey has never
been informed of the existence of this document. My views on
display as such are well known to yourself but I would gladly
accept the same to please the people here and the Irish in
Australia.

A more important question involves precedent and the Australian
Government's views on the issue raised by Maffey. His viewpoint is
similar to the Opposition attitude on questions arising in recent
years concerning Australia's adoption of the Westminister Statute
[5] and independent declaration of war. Maffey's view exaggerates
the importance of outward formality and conflicts with the more
generally accepted Australian viewpoint that British Commonwealth
links are not so fragile as to depend on abstention from or be
endangered by ceremony of this kind.

I can arrange a short delay of say two weeks to enable you to
fully consider but would appreciate an interim reply immediately
with your prima facie reaction. If you feel that, notwithstanding
the Canadian precedent, Australia should not follow pending fuller
discussion and consideration, would like authority to endeavour to
arrange a compromise of official ceremony of reception and/or
banquet without document. The Irish Government would be genuinely
disappointed if all three were abandoned.

This cable is a substitution for 'full reply by air' to 4999
promised in Wednesday's cable. Cannot use British or Irish or
public telegraph, typex, teleprinter, telephone between London and
Dublin with secrecy on this matter. External Affairs Officer,
London, advised how to communicate.