Reference your Circular D. 553 [1] and cable to you from Prime
Minister, Canada. [2] I feel too much has been read into the
projected resolutions which seem to me to go far enough but not
too far. He raises in paragraph 12 a question of great importance
to us in Australia. [3] We freely recognise value of consultation
through High Commissioners and by cable and are not unconscious of
practical difficulties of creating a standing Empire War Cabinet
at this time. But nevertheless we feel strongly that some personal
consultation between Empire countries in near future essential if
Empire military plans to be concerted and our common strategic
ideas to be brought up to date. For example, Australia has special
interests in the Middle East in relation to the dispositions and
use of manpower and equipment and has vital interest in Singapore
and Western Pacific problems, including Japan, Netherlands East
Indies, Thailand and other Pacific countries.

There would be great satisfaction in Australia if such matters
could be jointly discussed as soon as possible, and as Prime
Minister I would be willing to go to London or any other nominated
place to attend the necessary conference.

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