14 Commonwealth Government to Lord Cranborne, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
Cablegram 467 [1] CANBERRA, 23 July 1941
MOST IMMEDIATE MOST SECRET
Your M.172. [2]
Commonwealth Government is fully in accord with conclusions set
out in paragraph 4 of your telegram under reference. [3] As you
are aware, we have always attached highest importance to gaining
assurance of collaboration of United States in course of action in
restraint of Japan. Now that the United States Government has
decided to adopt severe measures in event of Japanese move in
Indo-China, we feel strongly that whole object of our policy in
Far East over past year would be negatived if British Empire now
lagged behind United States in effectiveness or determination of
its own counter measures, and same consideration would apply to
any attempt at this stage to dissuade United States from
proceeding to contemplated lengths. We emphasise, however, need in
our opinion for utmost frankness in present exchanges with United
States Government in sense of paragraph 4 (3) in order that there
can be no possibility of misunderstanding. [4]