740.0011 European War 1939/6749: Telegram
The Minister in Ireland ( Gray ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:38 p.m.]
102. Reference my telegram No. 99, November 10, 1 p.m. and to the memorandum of conversation transmitted with my despatch No. 96, November 13.17
Contributing to conjecture as to the real but concealed attitude of the Ministry for External Affairs toward Great Britain, I am informed in strict confidence that 3 days ago the Permanent Secretary stated his belief that Germany would [win?] the war; that England at best could not alter “the new order” in Europe; that we would not become involved; that our aid to Great Britain would be unavailing; that the disabling of three Italian battleships,18 if a fact, [Page 171] spelled the downfall of British sea power as Italian airplanes could sink British ships. Asked if he did not think Great Britain was fighting for something worthwhile he replied that no one outside of Great Britain believed that.
He apparently is very closely watching American opinion through Brennan for he stated that American press had given friendly reception to Irish Premier’s speech about the ports, that Conboy’s19 speech had been well received and that Ireland’s offer to receive refugees had changed United States opinion antagonistic to Ireland overnight. This probably is not far from De Valera’s beliefs. For our guidance please telegraph your estimate of press opinion as to each of these three points. We have been trying to explain unofficially that while our Government understood Irish neutrality policy any anti-Irish interpretation of it by uncensored American newspapers was likely to excite hostile criticism and endanger our happy relations.