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

286 Mr John Curtin, Prime Minister, to Lord Cranborne, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

Cablegram 65 [1] CANBERRA, 21 January 1942

MOST IMMEDIATE MOST SECRET

Reference your No. 58 [2], it is noted that the only senior Australian officer proposed to be provided on the Staff of the Supreme Commander is the Deputy of the Administrative Branch. As Australia is to have three divisions and possibly a fourth one in this area, this is quite unacceptable to the Commonwealth Government.

We strongly hold the view that the General Officer Commanding A.I.F. [3] should be given a status that will ensure he is fully consulted in regard to all operational, administrative and other plans in so far as they affect the A.I.F.

CURTIN

1 Repeated to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Allied Supreme Commander of the A.B.D.A. Area, as no. 1 and to the N.Z. Prime Minister as no. 29.

2 Dispatched 14 January. On file AA:A2671, 37/42, It outlined the command responsibilities at Wavell's headquarters in Java.

3 Maj Gen H. G. Bennett.

[AA:A3196, 1942, 0.2014]

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