149 Mr John Curtin, Prime Minister, to Mr Winston Churchill, U.K. Prime Minister
Cablegram Johcu 5 CANBERRA, [2 December 1941] [1]
MOST SECRET AND PERSONAL
I have your telegram WINCH No. 7 [2] and am grateful to you for sending it for our guidance.
I most cordially concur in your action in addressing the President [3] in the terms you have used. Your suggestion is in accord with the views expressed at the War Cabinet yesterday. [4] However, I make this further suggestion. In our view if we are to effectively deter Japan from an aggressive move, a greater concentration of naval strength (not necessarily all British) is desirable. I believe that Japan's obstinacy is grounded in the belief that America would, at the best, be slow to come in and that from many (corrupt group ? causes) a time lag in American shooting would be inevitable.
If in addition the President could be got to the point of giving effect to your strong personal appeal this would be a complete deterrent to Japan's entry into the war.
CURTIN