Prime Minister to Prime Minister. [1]

Reference your 241. [2]

In your 233 [3] it was clearly implied that the convoy was not
proceeding to the northward. From 241 it appears that you have
diverted the convoy towards Rangoon and had treated our approval
to this vital diversion as merely a matter of form. By doing so
you have established a physical situation which adds to the
dangers of the convoy and the responsibility of the consequences
of such diversion rests upon you.

2. We have already informed the President [4] of the reasons for
our decision and, having regard to the terms of his communications
to me [5], we are quite satisfied from his sympathetic reply that
he fully understands and appreciates the reasons for our decision.

3. Wavell's message [6] considered by Pacific War Council on
Saturday reveals that Java faces imminent invasion. Australia's
outer defences are now quickly vanishing and our vulnerability is
completely exposed.

4. With A.I.F. troops we sought to save Malaya and Singapore,
falling back on Netherlands East Indies. All these northern
defences are gone or going. Now you contemplate using the A.I.F.

to save Burma. All this has been done as in Greece without
adequate air support.

5. We feel a primary obligation to save Australia not only for
itself but to preserve it as a base for the development of the war
against Japan. In the circumstances it is quite impossible to
reverse a decision which we made with the utmost care and which we
have affirmed and re-affirmed.

6. Our Chief of General Staff [7] advises although your 241 refers
to the leading division only the fact is that owing to the loading
of the flights it is impossible at the present time to separate
the two divisions and the destination of all the flights will be
governed by that of the first flight. This fact reinforces us in
our decision.