258 Bruce to Curtin
Cablegram 124[A] LONDON, 16 August 1943, 7.28 p.m.
IMMEDIATE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER PERSONAL HIMSELF ONLY MOST SECRET
Developments are taking place both here and in America in connection with what is known as the Tube Alloys scheme [1] which apart from their significance in relation to the war will have profound economic repercussions in the post-war period.
These developments are of so secret a character that I cannot telegraph you with regard to them but Rivett [2] knows the general picture and I suggest you should send for him and personally get the facts.
The main deposits of the raw material required [3] are in Canada and the Belgian Congo, over both of which the Americans have obtained control, and Australia. I suggest it is imperative that the Australian deposits should be safe-guarded and that we should be brought into the picture as to the present position and kept in touch with all future developments.
To these ends I suggest that you should ask the United Kingdom Government to agree that Professor Oliphant [4], who is leaving here tomorrow for a short visit to America, should be allowed to make a flying visit, in all senses of the term, to Australia for consultation with you and your advisers.
For your very private information Oliphant would be willing to make the trip and in fact is very much in favour of doing so. [5]
BRUCE