Journal of European Integration History – Revue d'histoire de l'

The Diplomacy of ‘dignified calm’ 87tive on 19 August. Erhard then informed the Taoiseach that the Irish applicationwould be placed before the Council of Ministers at their next meeting.The Council met on 25, 26 and 27 September 1961 where Britain and Denmarkwere allowed to proceed to the negotiation stage. But in the case of Ireland, theCouncil decided to wait upon the opinion of the Commission which would be readyby mid-October. Although never published, it is reported to have referred to theneed to study whether Ireland, in view of her ‘special circumstances’, would be in aposition to fulfil the economic and political commitments under the Treaty ofRome.Following the Council, Erhard told Lemass in a letter on the 24th that the memberstates of the Six wished to have an “exchange of views” with him in Brussels todiscuss “the special problems” raised by the application. 31More experienced observers of EEC politics might not have reacted negativelyto that proposal. But so concerned had Lemass become at the reports from Irishembassies about the “special problems” of the Irish case that he had sent Whitakerand Cremin on a tour of the capitals between 5 and 13 September 1961. Althoughthey were very well received they concluded that the political dimension of theIrish application was a source of much speculation. 32 Would Ireland play her rolein a future political community and in a defence community if and when it cameinto existence? Here was the negative legacy of the policy of neutrality. Even morealarmingly both men also gathered from a senior official in the Foreign Ministry inBonn that the most Dublin could hope for was associate membership. 33As a consequence of their report, Irish diplomatic efforts in the latter part of1961 were directed towards assuaging the fears of European and American politiciansand administrators concerning the country's economic preparedness and itsgood faith in regard to the longer term objectives for the establishment of a politicalcommunity and ultimately a European defence commitment. 34Meanwhile, great care was paid in the intervening weeks to the drafting of a textfor Lemass's speech on 18 January 1962 in Brussels. Sensitised by his recent trip tothe capitals of the Six, Dr Whitaker told Lemass in a memorandum that “it wouldbe economic disaster for us to be outside the community if Britain is in it”. 35 Hewas especially keen to avoid any suggestion that if joining NATO were insistedupon as a condition of membership, Ireland would not withdraw its application:31. D. J. MAHER, The Tortuous Path, p. 142.32. Dr Whitaker recalled one anecdote about visiting Luxembourg where they were well received by afriend known to him from the World Bank. “So glad to see you again and I remember your wonderfulScotch”. When Whitaker reminded him that it must have been “Irish” he said he was only usingthe term “Scotch” in the general sense.33. Whitaker interview, Dublin, July 1996.34. Lemass, in a speech to the Cork Chamber of Commerce on 11 November, spoke of the great economicprogress enjoyed by Ireland in recent years, and welcomed the immediate political obligationsof membership of the community being authoritatively defined. Although not a member ofNATO, Lemass said that Ireland was not unwilling to participate in the movement for European integration.D. J. MAHER, The Tortuous Path, p. 144.35. “Whitaker keen to exclude NATO option from EEC talks”, Irish Times, 1/2 January 1993.