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

259 Commonwealth Government to Lord Cranborne, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

Cablegram 57 29 January 1941,

MOST SECRET

Your telegrams 21 of 13th January [1], and 4 of 3rd January [2] to the United Kingdom High Commissioner. [3] Commonwealth Government have received, through the Consul of the Netherlands [4], invitation from the Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies [5], to send Military Mission to the Netherlands East Indies for secret staff conversations, on understanding that they do not imply any political commitment on either side.

Commonwealth Government have accepted invitation, and will be represented at conversations by a naval officer, two air force officers and a munitions expert. [6]

Representatives will leave for the Netherlands in about ten days time. [7]

1 On file AA:A1608, AA27/1/1.

2 Document 245.

3 Sir Geoffrey Whiskard.

4 J. van Holst Pellekaan.

5 Jonkheer Dr A. W. L. Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer.

6 See Document 254, note 3, for details.

7 The information in this cablegram was repeated to R. G. Menzies, Prime Minister (then in Calcutta), in cablegram 10 of 30 January (AA:A3196, 1941, 0.1189).

[AA:A3196, 1941, 0.1147]

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