22 Mr R. G. Menzies, Prime Minister, to Mr A. Eden, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
Cablegram 17 17 January 1940,
MOST SECRET
Your telegram D.18. [1] Anglo-French declaration. His Majesty's
Government in the Commonwealth of Australia strongly agrees with
consideration set out in paragraph 4 of telegram under reference
and desires accordingly to be associated with Anglo-French
declaration. At the same time it is felt that it would be
unfortunate as regards demonstration of solidarity if some but not
all Dominion Governments were associated with declaration. If
there is not unanimity among Dominions, the Commonwealth
Government would like to be advised of the position before you
proceed further. [2]
MENZIES
1 Document 15.
2 Lt Col W. R. Hodgson, Secretary of the External Affairs Dept,
wrote a minute on the draft copy of this cablegram for Frank
Strahan, Secretary of the Prime Minister's Dept, which read:
'App[rove]d by Minister after, I understand, consultation with
P.M. W.R.H. 16.1.40.' (See copy on file AA: A1608, A41/1/1, vii.)
At a meeting with Eden and the other Dominion High Commissioners
on 19 January 1940 S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner in London, said
that he had considerable doubts about the wisdom of the proposed
statement. Bruce argued that it was a natural and basic assumption
that Britain and France would see the war through together and
that to issue a statement on not concluding a separate peace
suddenly and without any particular reason might suggest to people
that them was some difference of view. (See Bruce's note of the
meeting on file AA: M100, January 1940.)
[AA: A981, WAR 45B, ii]
