Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

284 Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, U.K. High Commissioner in Australia, to Lord Caldecote, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

Cablegram 171 27 May 1940,

IMMEDIATE MOST SECRET AND PERSONAL

Your Circular telegram Z 76 of 26th May. [1] Prime Minister [2] asks me to inform you that if contingency referred to occurred he would like early advice as to what use the United Kingdom Government desire should be made of Commonwealth Troops both trained and in training and with any other forces at disposal of the Commonwealth Government. It should be assumed that the Commonwealth Government will pledge the whole of their resources to victory. [3]

1 Document 282.

2 R. G. Menzies.

3 On 29 May 1940 Whiskard was advised that a reply would be sent to Menzies's message as soon as possible. (See U.K. Dominions Secretary's cablegram 161 of 28 May on file AA: CP290/6, 54.)

[PRO: DO 35/1003, ii]

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