740.00116 E.W./11–244
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State
Mr. Nunan, the Irish Counselor, called this afternoon at his request in the absence from Washington of the Irish Minister.
Mr. Nunan stated he very much regretted that there had been a misunderstanding relative to the recent Irish reply on the matter of asylum for war criminals. He wished to assure me that it was the intention of his Government to permit no circumstance to arise under which a Nazi might obtain asylum in Ireland. He stated he was unable to understand why we were not satisfied with the phrasing of the Irish note and he stated further that his Government was extremely [Page 1447] anxious to make an arrangement which would be thoroughly satisfactory to us as the United States was Eire’s foremost friend.
I suggested that when the Minister returned from Chicago, I would be delighted to have a thorough discussion with him, and the Counselor felt this was an excellent suggestion. On leaving he asked me what he might say to the press and I suggested that he state that we had discussed merely routine matters and had had a satisfactory meeting.