There's a TIL now about the gift the Choctaw Indian Tribe gave to the Irish during the Great Potato Famine. That got me curious on the circumstances of the gift (or aid in how it would be phrased in today's news).

I would guess diplomatic channels would be limited then. How would this have been arranged? Also, what would the two groups know about each other at this time?

Here's the news article linked to the TIL:

http://newsok.com/article/5440927

Edit: the text I included had the Choctaw and the Irish as samples, but any discussion on gifts/aids between states at this period would be welcome. Thanks!