Your telegrams Nos. 1 [2], 8 [3], 10 [4], 13 [5], draft
Declarations. [6] 1. I hope you will agree that the method in
which the negotiations and the transactions have been carried out
has not been satisfactory to the Dominions. We hear of proposed
amendments and bits of information, but even at the last we were
without definitive information as to the full text. We do not even
know yet whether India is a party.

2. There is evidence from the cables that much of the procedure
was designed rather to bustle distant governments by telling them
that agreement must be reached within a very short time. If they
are not designed to bustle they are certainly calculated to do so,
and I look to you to try to prevent any repetition.

3. So far as I can see, the requests you have been instructed to
make on our behalf in relation to the Declaration have all been
rejected. Yet as you know they were all reasonable and
constructive in character. The present tendency is to treat the
Dominions as too subordinate.

4. With regard to your particular question in No. 13, we are
agreeable to interpret 'nations' in last paragraph as including
right of free movements to adhere to the Declaration.

5. Press here contains almost daily reports of interviews with
you, e.g. suggestion that you were advocating abandonment of
Philippines is published to-day. Of course, we have no such
policy. You are also reported as having refused to comment on
recent statement of the Prime Minister. [7] It is very desirable
that public statements or background information conform strictly
to policy of government here otherwise embarrassment must result.

Please make sure that Bailey [8] understands this at all times.

6. I wish immediate enquiry made as to nature of press comments
upon Mr. Curtin's recent statement relating to the United States
and of part played by Commonwealth Information Department in
America. In particular it should be ascertained whether criticism
was organised or inspired from this end. Some of the criticism was
calculated to obstruct the government in its plan to obtain
immediate reinforcements.

7. I must impress upon you the necessity of pressing for
information dealing specifically with every point raised in
cablegrams and of reporting to us promptly what action you have
taken in relation to each point. I do not propose to go through
the cablegrams of the last six weeks but even with regard to vital
comments on reinforcements (e.g. No. 164 [9]) the answer was not
detailed. This tends to lack of co-ordination, to conflicting
views, and to frustration of this nation's war effort.

8. I appreciate your difficulties but those of this government are
also known to you. Unfortunately in certain quarters it is
necessary to struggle all the time in order to protect our vital
interests.

EVATT