Cablegram 289 TOKYO, 12 June 1941, 4.47 p.m.
SECRET
My telegram No. 288. [1] As it is important to give extremist
elements no excuse for picking a quarrel with the Netherlands East
Indies, particularly on basis allegations of encirclement, I urge
that no public statement be made at present offering or suggesting
Australian support or assistance to Netherlands East Indies and
that press should exercise great discretion. [2]
LATHAM
1 Dispatched 11 June. It read: 'Strong pressure being brought to
bear on the Japanese Government by Germany and the army extremists
to attack the Netherlands East Indies on grounds that the
Netherlands East Indies refuses to accept Japan's trade proposals
and is opposed to the new order. Cabinet said to be divided in
opinion. 'See file AA: A1608, A41/1/6, v.
2 The Commonwealth Govt repeated the substance of this cablegram
to the U.K. Dominions Secretary, Lord Cranborne, in cablegram 365
of 13 June. See file AA: A1608, N41/1/1. On 18 June Latham
reported in cablegram 301 (AA: A3830, 1941, 1569) that it seemed
that 'proposals for attack on Netherlands East Indies have been at
least postponed'.
[AA: A981, FAR EAST 26A]
