I shall be glad if you will kindly convey the following to the
Prime Minister personally [1]-
I have no desire to add to your burdens but feel that a frank
statement to you from time to time upon how certain matters look
to us at this distance might be useful. We are of course not in
the best position to form a judgment but we cannot free ourselves
from a feeling that the Allied conduct of the war on the
diplomatic side has lacked firmness and activity.

After the defeat of Finland we felt that there might be a grave
loss of prestige and a tendency on the part of European neutrals
to move in the direction of Germany, and that accordingly a
resolute diplomatic policy should have been pursued in Norway and
Sweden.

This feeling in our minds has of course been substantially
affected by the Scandinavian developments of the last few days,
but these developments seem to us to make it even more important
that the greatest possible diplomatic pressure should be exercised
in the Danubian and Balkan countries. Any hostile move by Italy at
this time, following upon the German absorption of Denmark and a
possible move into the Low Countries, might well induce these
Southern nations to adopt policies friendly to Germany and it is
difficult to imagine that under such circumstances Turkey would be
willing to co-operate with the Allies. We therefore feel that
imaginative and active diplomacy; both official and unofficial,
and first-class propaganda should be pursued in the Balkans.

From a careful study of daily Dominions Office cables we have not
gained the impression that this has been sufficiently appreciated.

We realise, however, that these anxieties of ours may be ill-
founded and we would welcome your own advices [sic]. Our belief is
that diplomatic action, backed by convincing assurances of
military aid, might well secure active co-operation and, in the
case of Turkey, might lead to the granting of a right of passage
for Allied warships through the Dardanelles.

I understand that it has been suggested that the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs should proceed to Ankara. I hope that
this will be done. A visit of a Minister of the high reputation
and moral force of Halifax might well have a steadying effect upon
Mussolini and upon the Balkan States, and if this were so, a
definitely co-operative policy agreed with Turkey in relation with
South-Eastern Europe might open the way to a diplomacy which
openly rested upon a German/Soviet threat to Europe and to the
world.

Along this line, one can imagine that co-operation by Japan might
not be impossible and that the effect upon American public opinion
would be invaluable.

To sum up, there was until recently a feeling here in some
quarters that the Allies were not sufficiently active in a
military sense. I have not completely shared that view, nor has my
Government-though we have occasionally felt that, particularly in
connection with the attacks upon shipping, we have been somewhat
passive. But on the diplomatic side, there is a widespread feeling
that we have too frequently allowed Germany to take the initiative
and to succeed by threats while we in our turn have been too
orthodox, too polite, and too defensive.

If you could find time to give us some information on these points
we would be grateful.

I send this cable with great diffidence, but I am encouraged to do
so because I think you realise the great confidence that the
Australian Government and the Australian people have in you.

MENZIES