Developments of last 24 hours have intensified desirability of
your coming to London and in my view questions of such vital
importance to Australia will be under consideration in the
immediate future that you should get here as soon as it is
physically possible to do so.

Dominions Z.258 [1] will have informed you that President's [2]
idea of negotiating on Japan's conditions so as to gain a
moratorium of say 30 days has been agreed to. This is unpalatable
in view of the nature of those conditions but well worth while in
exchange for U.S.A. acceptance of the inclusion in the American
note to Japan of the warnings set out in the penultimate paragraph
of Z.258. During the contemplated 30 days moratorium and
particularly in the latter part of it when you could possibly be
here, it is of vital consideration to Australia that our point of
view should be fully represented in the War Cabinet when the many
questions that will arise are under discussion. This will be
equally important following the moratorium period as then we will
probably either be facing war or formulating policies for future
relations in the Pacific, the area in which we have a paramount
interest.

In addition to the problem of the Pacific all the questions
discussed and understandings arrived at between the President and
Prime Minister [3] including their joint declaration will be under
consideration in the immediate future.

In my view the next two or three months will be of transcending
importance in which fundamental questions concerning the war and
the post war world will be determined.

In view of the magnitude of these issues it is imperative that our
point of view should be fully and adequately represented. This can
only be done by the presence here of the Prime Minister of
Australia with the prestige and authority attaching to the head of
the Government of the outstanding Dominion.

Out of a considerable experience of these people and knowledge of
the personalities in the United Kingdom Government I say without
hesitation that any Minister of lesser authority than the Prime
Minister would be able to accomplish little and even you
notwithstanding the remarkable impression you created during your
recent visit would find yourself frustrated without the status of
a Prime Minister.

A further reason for your coming to London immediately is that
there is now a distinct prospect of a Meeting of Prime Ministers
here. Mackenzie King [4] is due in England on Sunday-this most
secret-and Fraser [5] has as a result postponed his departure,
contemplated for tomorrow. Smuts [6] is at present in Cairo-this
also most secret-and pressure is being put on him to come on here.

Should these three Dominion Prime Ministers be in England together
it would I suggest for many reasons be regrettable if Australia's
Prime Minister was not here also. [7]

BRUCE