From ‘his Majesty’s service’ to the creation of a nation

ALONG with the State Papers released annually under the 30-year rule, other documents that should have been opened in previous years have also just been released.

They include a request from the Vatican on February 19, 1971, to grant political asylum to Milton Obote, the deposed President of Uganda.

The following day, after the Irish Government had given the matter “particularly careful and sympathetic consideration”, Ambassador TV Commins informed the Vatican the request had been turned down.