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My dear P.M.,

In continuation of my talk to Mr. Thomas. [1] He said: 'Why ever did Bruce ask Amery [2] for industrialists only on the Big Four [3] who are going to Australia? Why didn't he ask for at least one Labour man?' I said that I was not in touch with this and did not know what was in your mind, but asked him if it would be possible for a Labour man to be included, even now, if you asked for one.

He said that now it was too near the election here and that the men who would be worth while getting to go were too absorbed with work in connection with the coming election. But he said to let you know that he thought it would be possible after the election, in a year or eighteen months' time, to get three or four first- class Labour men, such as himself, Tom Johnston [4], Citrine [5], etc., to go out on a mission. I said that such a matter was out of my sphere altogether but that I would tell you what he had said.

[6]

I am, Yours sincerely, R.G. CASEY