Your telegram No. 681. [1] Chiefs of Staff appreciation on the Far
East, summary of which Dominions Office will cable you, shows
first reinforcements for the Far East will be drawn from India as
the quickest and from a shipping point of view the easiest source.

Subsequent reinforcements if required would be drawn from wherever
available. Point which I have stressed strongly being recognised-
that Australia with her commitments for home defence and in Middle
East not in a position materially to increase the contribution
already made.

Canadian Expeditionary Force in England numbering some 60,000 are
regarded as part of common pool to reinforce anywhere and further
troops coming to hand in Canada for the Expeditionary Force would
be similarly available and could, if necessary, be shipped direct
from Canada to any theatre of war. I gather that despatch to the
Far East would be very welcome to troops in England who are
becoming restive under inactivity, particularly in face of
Australian achievements in the Middle East, but I have no
information as to the attitude of the Canadian Government but have
little doubt that they would agree that the utilisation of
Canadians was the most effective and expeditious method of
reinforcing the Far East.

BRUCE