Please communicate the following message to the Prime Minister [1]
for his Most Secret information.

As you will realise, the position is changing so rapidly from day
to day that any appreciation prepared here is out of date almost
before completed. We are endeavouring to keep you fully informed
of all developments and of our reactions to them, and shall of
course continue to do this. We do not feel it possible to plan for
more than a short period ahead until the measure of co-operation
we can expect from France and her oversea possessions can be
assessed.

2. Your offer of further assistance under certain contingencies
has given us the greatest possible encouragement, as in the months
to come the maximum effort of the whole Empire will be required to
sustain the struggle.

3. Reference sub-paragraph (a) in your telegram 290 [2] we
gratefully accept the offer of one cruiser, merchant cruiser and
two sloops. Admiralty are informing Australian Commonwealth Navy
Board that we should like these to go to the East Indies.

4. Reference sub-paragraph (b), we suggest the enlistment,
training and equipment, so far as Australia can provide it, of
Seventh and Eighth Divisions should be pushed on with the utmost
speed, even to the extent of drawing on Militia equipment which
could be replaced later from Australian Ordnance Factories.

At the same time we should be grateful if you could consider the
possibility of raising and equipping additional Divisions for
overseas service in the course of the next twelve months.

5. Reference sub-paragraph (c) we should be most grateful if one
extra Squadron of Hudsons and one Squadron of Wirraways could be
provided, and concur in your view that these Squadrons should in
that event be employed at Singapore where their presence would
release R.A.F. Units most urgently required for service in the
Middle East. If further Units become available they too could
perform most valuable service in releasing R.A.F. Units from the
Far East and India. Apart from these considerations, there is
urgent need for trained personnel, flying and ground, and
operational aircraft in the United Kingdom but we should not
suggest that any steps possible to meet this need should be
allowed to prejudice the Air Training Scheme.