Your S.10. [1] We have taken very careful note of all the
considerations set out by you and fully appreciate difficulty and
importance of decision which you must make. We feel however that
as the offer has been made personally to you, the matter is
entirely one between yourself and Churchill.

You may rest assured therefore that Commonwealth Government would
not stand in your way by pressing you to remain in the service of
Australia in the United States. At the same time I should point
out to you that it would be a matter of great difficulty and
embarrassment for us to have to make a change in the
Commonwealth's diplomatic representation at Washington at the
present juncture. Apart from the difficulty of finding in existing
circumstances persons both competent for the position and
available for appointment, we would regard it as a serious
disadvantage for Australia if at this point we should lose the
benefit of the many contacts you have made in American
administration and public life over the past two years, together
with your own familiarity which you have acquired as Minister with
the many urgent and weighty matters now current in our
relationship with the United States.

Having regard to all the circumstances the wishes of the
Commonwealth Government are to make no change in Australian
diplomatic representation at Washington as matters stand. This is
a factor which you will naturally take into account in forming
your decision, but I emphasize that it is to be regarded not as
instruction or advice but only as an expression of opinion. As was
intimated to you by Churchill, the final judgment is one for
yourself personally.

CURTIN