My cablegram No. 627 to Dominions Office [1] relative to Singapore
Naval Base has since despatch been placed before the Advisory War
Council, and it has recommended to the Government that
representations be made to the United Kingdom Government regarding
the possibility of basing three or four capital ships at Singapore
without prejudice to the security of other areas where they may
now be located.

2. In view of the recent British naval successes in the
Mediterranean and the increase in the number of capital ships it
is considered, if circumstances permit, that the course proposed
would have a great deterrent effect on Japan and meet with a
favourable reaction from the U.S.A. Government who would no doubt
be consulted in regard to any such move.

3. It is realised that capital ships require cruisers, destroyers
and other vessels for completeness as a tactical unit and that the
strain placed on the present cruiser and destroyer strength is
considerable. However, it was noted from Dominions Office
cablegram 268 of 11th August [2] that, in the first phase of an
Anglo-Japanese war, a battlecruiser and a fast aircraft carrier
would be based on Ceylon. With the recent improvement of the naval
position in the Mediterranean, it is suggested that consideration
be given to the possibility of the adoption of the greater
proposal or at least the lesser one mentioned.

4. I would be glad if you would raise the foregoing with the Prime
Minister [3] or First Lord of the Admiralty [4] and advise me of
their views when it can be decided whether any representations
should be made to the Government. [5]

MENZIES