So far the chief value of my visit has undoubtedly been its effect
on the general opinion and the spirit of the people here. There
has been a good response to such speeches as I have been able to
make and a very real enthusiasm about what Australia is doing.

There is no doubt at present that Australia is Dominion No. 1, and
this has not been our experience in the past. I have spent two
week-ends with Churchill whose qualities are much greater even
than we thought. His experience since becoming Prime Minister has
obviously ripened his judgment and he combines in a unique way
most remarkable fighting and driving qualities with an astonishing
mastery of the details of both plans and equipment. One thing that
disturbs me a little is that his cabinet is not disposed to
entertain an independent view and there is therefore a shortage of
criticism. Have not yet seen Eden [1] who is in the Middle East
but in his absence I am unimpressed by the Foreign Office whose
policy particularly in relation to the Far East seems to be one of
drift. I am doing my best to endeavour to alter this and to get
them to define a little more accurately their attitude towards the
importance of such places as the Netherlands East Indies and Siam.

On Saturday night I went exhaustively through the figures of
aircraft production with the Prime Minister and I am more than
pleased with them. Production is regarded as being almost equal to
the German total. There is a real superiority in fighters.

John Storey [2] has paid many visits to factories, is on the whole
delighted with the work being done and has been preparing the
ground very skilfully for a proposition which I will make at the
appropriate time for the establishment of additional aircraft
construction in Australia. I am quite hopeful on this side but you
will, of course, appreciate that the matter will be delicate, and
that at present the less said about it the better. As to the
Mediterranean project, newspapers have exaggerated the willingness
of Turkey. I think it quite clear that neither Turkey nor Yugo-
Slavia will do anything about Greece.

In view of this [and] of the abortive attack upon Castelrizo which
was I think mismanaged, and of the arrival of mechanised units at
Tripoli, I have asked that the proposed action be re-examined by
the (Chiefs of Staff). [3] Churchill has agreed and a quick re-
examination is now in hand. I will advise you as soon as possible.

I have noted with great pleasure with what activity you have been
carrying the business on in my absence. The knowledge of this has
been a source of real encouragement to me at this end. Regards.

MENZIES