 In the Republic, however, it was seen as a clear indication that the "Irish Cold War" had ended, or at least that a thaw had set in.Lemass returned the invitation on 9 February of the same year by inviting O'Neill to Dublin, but he did not want to be seen to be anti-British.The Irish government encouraged overseas developments with the United States, so that they could share in the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Easter Rising.