The US embassy in Dublin found itself in a difficult position after the January 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry when Jack Lynch decided to send Dr Patrick Hillery to Washington to seek US intervention.
Such intervention by the Nixon administration would run counter to long-standing US policy towards Northern Ireland which was that it was a purely British problem and Washington must stay neutral.
The Dublin embassy, in a telegram marked secret, told the State Department: "We fully understand the delicate problems for US policy that Dr Hillery, Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Lynch-led Fianna Fail government, will raise. Unquestionably, the Irish reaction to the events in Derry has been, and Dr Hillery's representations are likely to be, emotionally charged.
"We do not believe, however, that our response to the Irish government should be based primarily upon concern for Ireland's problems, although these cannot be totally ignored. We believe that our response should be based upon our own interests."
This seems like a cunning ploy by the diplomats in Dublin to ensure that Dr Hillery would not return empty-handed from Washington. The embassy reminded Washington that "we have been told by a variety of sources that resentment continues over USG [US government] unwillingness to support Irish efforts to have Northern Ireland matter inscribed on UN Security Council and General Assembly agendas in 1969 [following riots in Derry and Belfast]. Presumably there is also bitterness, re our refusal to intervene with British re internment this summer.
"We believe therefore that Irish will not, repeat not, be satisfied by polite expressions of sympathy and they will expect at least a US commitment to approach British and ask them to take steps to relieve tensions in North. Irish may suggest we urge end to internment, withdrawal of British troops from Catholic ghetto areas, direct rule, talks etc."
In a strong plea for Washington to depart from the strict non-interference policy, the embassy declared: "If we are to avoid serious damage to US-Irish relations in this tense situation, given sensitivities already aroused by landing rights issue, we strongly believe US should be forthcoming on this issue, that cost to US relations with Ireland of not doing anything considerably outweigh possibility that US relations with Britain will suffer very much if we approach HMG [her majesty's government]."
However, this plea fell on deaf ears in Washington, where the secretary of state, Mr William Rogers, rebuffed Dr Hillery's request for US intervention with Britain to ease tensions over Bloody Sunday.
Dr Hillery had perhaps unwisely raised the ante before he got to Washington at a press conference in New York where he said that if he did not get satisfaction in the US, Ireland might have to "turn towards the East" for help. US journalists present speculated that this might mean Ireland seeking arms from the Soviet Union.
The US embassy in Dublin continued to try and budge Washington from its position. "The sober view of people in the government here, and of most members of the diplomatic corps - including ourselves and members of the British mission - is that the present course of events on this island, if not modified by a change in British policy, runs a grave risk of leading to civil war, or at least further bloodshed.
"There is, moreover, the danger, mentioned to us by a British diplomat last night, that trouble could break out in cities in the UK that have large mixed Irish populations, such as Glasgow and Liverpool. If these things happen, it will mean the deployment of British troops from commitments elsewhere, in addition to the 14,000 troops that are already tied down in the North."
Then came the view that it was in US interests to get Britain to defuse the situation. "If the resulting shortfall in NATO and elsewhere is to be made up, it can only mean additional strain on our own resources."
The embassy warned Washington: "If the present course is not altered and this island becomes convulsed, it is difficult to predict what sort of Dublin government would emerge in the aftermath, with significant consequences for ourselves, the EEC and western Europe."
The embassy spelled out what it hoped Dr Hillery would hear in Washington. "We think that our government would wish to say it did not stand by unconcernedly as Ireland headed towards bloodshed.
"We believe, therefore, it is in our national interest to show as much responsiveness as possible to Dr Hillery's appeal. We believe we could at least agree to tell the British about his approach, to repeat to them his concerns and to tell them something about our own. We do not believe that the expression of concern amounts to the abandonment of a basically neutral position."