246 Dr H. V. Evatt, Minister for External Affairs, to Mr R. G. Casey, Minister to the United States

Cablegram 1 CANBERRA, 1 January 1942

MOST IMMEDIATE MOST SECRET

Your 1242. [1]

1. We agree with amendments to text as proposed by Russia. In
certain respects they improve draft declaration. Above all they
secure adherence of Russia.

2. Our view is that proposal inclusion of India is questionable
because status of that country is not yet that of a self-governing
nation.

3. Alphabetical order of all signatories is preferable and we hope
that you will succeed in obtaining it.

4. In any event British Dominions should adhere separately and
should not be included in form of 'inset grouping' which
characterised adherence of Dominions and India to Treaty of
Versailles.

5. If, contrary to our views, proposal of alphabetical order of
all parties is rejected, alphabetical order of all parties except
those in first four should be strongly urged.

6. I presume that representatives some other Dominions share our
views on form of adherence. You will consult with them at all
stages. 7. In any event, whether agreement is in Governmental or
Heads of State form, it is absolutely essential that we should
concur. Therefore you will be invested with full authority to sign
declaration on behalf of Commonwealth Government or His Majesty in
respect of the Commonwealth, according to form ultimately adopted.

8. In anticipation of event of Heads of State form of agreement we
are in touch with Dominions Office. Bruce [2] has been instructed
to obtain separate King's Full Power in relation to Australia His
Majesty acting on Mr Curtin's [3] advice. You will be telegraphed
en clair from London. [4] 9. We are sending copies of this message
to the Prime Ministers Canada, South Africa, New Zealand [5] as an
expression of our opinion as to form of adherence. Please show it
also to their representatives in Washington.

[AA:A1608, N41/1/1]

1 Dispatched 30 December. On file AA:A3300, 102. It reported that
in order to secure the adherence of the U.S.S.R. the text of the
proposed Allied joint declaration was to be amended as follows: in
the second paragraph 'in their own lands as well as in other
lands' would replace 'not only in their own lands but everywhere';

the paragraph numbered (2) would read 'Each Government pledges
itself to co-operate with other governments signatory hereto and
not to make a separate armistice or peace with the enemies'; the
last line of the declaration would read 'rendering material
assistance and contributions in the struggle for victory over
Hitlerism'. The cablegram also reported that the U.K. Govt wished
to include India in the list of signatories and that President
Roosevelt wished to include the U.S.S.R. and China in the list of
great powers set out ahead of the alphabetical list of other
signatories.

2 High Commissioner in the United Kingdom. See cablegram 17 of 1
January on the file cited in note 1. The cablegram here published
was repeated to Bruce as no. 18.

3 Prime Minister.

4 See Bruce's cablegram 3A of 2 January on file AA:M100,January
1942. Casey reported on 2 January (see cablegram 13 on the file
cited in note 1) that he had signed the declaration on behalf of
the Commonwealth Govt the previous day.

5 Each cablegram was numbered 1 and dispatched on 1 January.

6 Inserted from the draft copy on the file cited in note 1.

[EVATT] [6]

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246 Dr H. V. Evatt, Minister for External Affairs, to Mr R. G. Casey, Minister to the United States