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MEMORANDUM OF DISCUSSION WITH AMBASSADOR WINANT                                            
AND MYRON TAXLOR, ESQ., ON THE IRISH SITUATION,  
                    SEPTEMBER 27, 1941.                     
 
                                                            
 
                       IRISH POLICY.                        
 
                                                            
 
 
  The Irish Government is irretrievably committed to it's   
present policy of neutrality. It desires that neutrality to be   
benevolent to the British, but is unwilling publicly to make any   
concessions looking to the common defense of the two islands.     
 Neutrality with Mr de Valera is not only a considered policy but a   
personal conviction very probably stemming from his sense of responsibility   
for dividing the Irish people in their civil war. He is resolved, no   
matter what happens, to keep the Irish people united for the remainder of   
his political life, and maintaining neutrality appears to be the most   
available means to this end in the present world situation. To what   
consequences it may lead, he is relatively indifferent. The farmers thus   
far have endorsed this policy because they have believe it meant high   
prices for agricultural products, as in the last war, and no serious   
deprivations. The industrialists also support him, largely because they   
fear the bombing of their plants. The hierarchy, generally speaking,   
support him on nationalistic grounds. They manifest no special concern   
over  the fate of their co-religionists in Germany or Poland. The  
most intelligent bishop in Ireland reminded me recently that Britain and   
the United States should be grateful for neutrality as it was a very much   
re favorable attitude than might reasonably have been expect
 
                                                            
 
 
(Note: About two weeks ago I noted a distinct change in the Papal Nuncio's   
attitude to the British. It had become definitely more friendly, and he   
began to speak with admiration of Cardinal Hinsley, which he had