I duly informed my Government of the decision of the Commonwealth
Government, conveyed in your letter to me of the 6th November,
approving the proposals of the Admiralty with regard to the
transfer of Australian destroyers to the Mediterranean. [1]

I have now received a further telegram from my Government [2]
stating that, in order to meet urgent convoy escort requirements
in the Atlantic, certain Royal Navy forces have already been
transferred from the Mediterranean in advance of the arrival of
Royal Australian Navy destroyers, with the result that the
Mediterranean forces are reduced below what is required to carry
out the very important services on that station. It is therefore
desired that the R.A.N. destroyers should proceed to the
Mediterranean station at the earliest possible date.

The two cruisers selected for service on the Australian station
are now employed on northern patrol, and they cannot be relieved
by armed merchant cruisers until early December, after which they
require a thorough refit. They should be able to sail for
Australia towards the end of January.

My Government hope that the Commonwealth Government will
appreciate the vital reasons for this temporary delay in the
replacement of R.A.N. destroyers by cruisers and that they will
agree to the immediate transfer of R.A.N. destroyers to the
Mediterranean. [3]

GEOFFREY WHISKARD