420 Mr S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, to Mr John Curtin, Prime Minister
Cablegram 48[A] LONDON, 18 March 1942, 10 p.m.
IMMEDIATE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER MOST SECRET PERSONAL HIMSELF
Without prejudging the wide issues raised in Dominions telegram 319 [1] it is, in my view, clear that final decisions will provide for control of the Pacific area in Washington.
Whether that control will be exercised as visualised in paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 or not the United States Chiefs of Staff must obviously play a considerable part. [2] America, however, has had no experience of war and the machinery for strategic and operational control will in great measure have to be created. I suggest that the importance cannot be exaggerated of our sending to Washington the best Staff Officers we have available. The influence of outstanding men of war experience, personality and ability in face of America's lack of war experience may be tremendous even if their defined functions are only those indicated in paragraph 9.
I would also suggest that you should urge New Zealand to do so as well, borrowing, as would probably be necessary in their case, suitable individuals from United Kingdom services.
BRUCE