Please give the following message to the Prime Minister.

BEGINS.

As will be seen from the message in my telegram Circular Z.291 of
today [2]' the question of further action in relation to Japan by
the United States in conjunction with us is being discussed with
United States authorities. We gather, in this connection, that
there is an impression in certain quarters that if, as a result of
any such action, the United States were to find themselves at war
with Japan, we might stand aside. The War Cabinet has considered
this aspect and there is no doubt in their mind that should the
question arise we should certainly declare war on Japan. May we
assume that in the circumstances the attitude of your Government
would be similar? We are proposing to let our Ambassadors at
Washington [3] and Tokyo [4] know what our attitude would be in
case the question should arise and we should be grateful therefore
for your views at the earliest possible moment. ENDS.