CANBERRA, 13 December 1941 Cablegram 153

MOST IMMEDIATE MOST SECRET

Please convey the following personal message to the President
[1]:Begins.

'On the entry of the United States of America into the war against
Germany and Italy as well as Japan I desire, on behalf of the
people of Australia, to express to you as the representative of
the people of America how greatly we have been heartened and
strengthened by the knowledge that the English-speaking world and
the majority of mankind are now arrayed against the common foe.

2. We in Australia are firmly resolved, come what may, to do our
utmost to defend to the limit of our capacity the Commonwealth and
adjacent territories in the South-Western Pacific and to co-
operate in the general plan for the defeat of the enemy. As you
are no doubt aware, we have land, sea and air forces in the
Malaya-East Indies area.

3. When the risks to Australia were not as great as at the present
time, we sent some of our Naval and Air forces as far afield as
Britain and we have three Army divisions and Air forces in the
Middle East. We have also contributed several thousand men to the
Empire Air Training scheme and hope to be able to continue our
part in it.

4. As a nation bordering the Pacific Ocean, the entry of Japan
into the war has brought a new threat near to our country. We
deeply deplore the losses sustained by your Naval and Air forces
at Hawaii and by the British Navy at Malaya. For some time, these
events will no doubt minimise the otherwise deterrent effect of
American and British seapower on Japanese operations.

5. The Commonwealth Government has warmly welcomed the opportunity
to co-operate with the United States forces in the provision of a
naval base at Rabaul and aerodrome facilities in territories under
the control of the Commonwealth and at New Caledonia. However, the
changed naval situation has had such repercussions on our local
defence position and co-operation in overseas theatres that our
Military resources are insufficient to meet the commitments for
the defence of the Pacific Islands in which you and we are vitally
interested. I am forwarding separately to the Australian Minister
a review of the position as it has been put to us by our Service
Advisers [2] and it would deeply be appreciated if you and your
Service Authorities could consider what help you may be able to
give in providing forces to deny these bases to the enemy. [3]

John Curtin
Prime Minister.'
Ends.

EVATT