312 Commonwealth Government to Mr R. G. Menzies, Prime Minister (in London)
Cablegram 73 21 February 1941,
SECRET
Your telegram of 14th February, Far East and Thailand. [1] We have
had whole question under close examination during last fortnight
[2] and are communicating to you, Latham [3] and Casey [4], our
considered views. [5] As you are now aware, Casey and Halifax [6]
have been in close consultation with the President [7] and
Secretary of State [8] on this question.
We hardly think suggestion that Latham be accredited to Thailand
is practicable at present time owing to difficulties of
communication, belief that Latham should be closely associated
with Craigie [9] and Grew [10] during this critical period and
fact that dual representation has never been regarded as any
compliment by nations concerned.
1 Document 297.
2 See AA:A2671, 71/1941 and 77/1941 with Supplement no. 1.
3 Minister to Japan.
4 Minister to the United States.
5 No such communications were in fact dispatched. On 18 February
War Cabinet decided that no reply other than an acknowledgment
should be sent to Latham's cablegram on Thailand (see Document
272, note 7), but on 20 February the Minister for External Affairs
(Sir Frederick Stewart) forwarded a draft of cablegram 73 to the
Acting Prime Minister (A. W. Fadden) with the comment: 'In regard
to the first paragraph of the above suggested telegram, I
understand that the draft telegram I submitted on Thailand to the
War Cabinet in Sydney last week is still under consideration, due
to the desire that the Chiefs of Staff should comment on certain
aspects of it. I would suggest that this or amended telegram be
despatched immediately, as otherwise its whole point will be
missed. In meantime, Latham Casey and the Prime Minister also no
doubt, are still awaiting the expression of our views.' See file
AA:A1608, A41/1/6, v.
The matter became further confused on 22 February when Fadden sent
Stewart a telegram reading 'Your letter twentieth. Suggest send
telegrams as recommended', which conveyed the impression that the
cablegram to Latham should also be dispatched. After a further
exchange of teleprinter messages between the External Affairs,
Prime Minister's and Defence Depts the matter was resolved on 28
February when Fadden decided that in accordance with War Cabinet
Minute 832 of 18 February an acknowledgment only should be sent to
Latham. See files AA:A981, Japan 174, ii; AA:A981, Japan 185B, i;
AA:A1608, A41/1/6, v.
6 U.K. Ambassador to the United States.
7 Franklin D. Roosevelt.
8 Cordell Hull.
9 U.K. Ambassador to Japan.
10 U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
[AA:A981, JAPAN 185B, i]
