Just received your personal wire. [1]

(1) I do not think there will be any further confusion of messages
from this end. I presume you have seen all recent messages
relating to the plans of my mission and my acquiesence in the
special request to await MacArthur's recommendations as Supreme
Commander of the theatre. I would like you to take the initiative
to see that there is not an hour's further delay over this matter.

The strategy is settled by the directive and all recommendations
for implementing it are dealt with on the military and technical
side, General Marshall [2] as executive under the directive being
most resentful of any governmental or political pressure which
interferes with his assessment of the recommendations of the
Commander. For this reason, General Smart [3], his officers and
Service Attaches here are precisely the persons to be heard at
various levels on the quantities of material and munitions
requisitioned. Smart will have close proximity to the Chiefs of
Staff and these matters can best take the regular course of
communication from MacArthur to Marshall then to the Chiefs of
Staff. I feel strongly that governmental intervention of any kind
should now [sic] take place between the Prime Minister of
Australia and the President and should be reserved for very rare
occasions.

(2) A mission like the present obtains special facilities and
acquires momentum partly because of its temporary character. The
time has undoubtedly come to move on to London, to return here for
review and to report back to Australia.

(3) The above is very obvious to all here on the spot, but I am
disturbed that there is not an equal appreciation of it at your
end specially by people like Shedden. [4] He, MacArthur and Blamey
[5] should know that under the directive, supply quantities must
be determined on a purely military and strategic basis. They can
seldom be affected by Government pressure but everything possible
has been done to ensure that MacArthur's revised requisitions will
be fully considered.

(4) I am anxious to get the London part of my mission finalised. I
look to you to do what you can to see that some immediate solution
is reached speedily. On the whole, I think Watt [6] would be
better to act on. the Council than General Smart, because all
representatives are non-military, but Smart and his officers will
be invaluable on the supply end.

(5) With regard to the conditions of Dixon's appointment [7],
please consult me before any decision is made as to the date of
commencement, as my own temporary representation here is noted by
the State Department.

[matter omitted]