I am grateful for your letter of 5th March [1] in which you
reviewed developments during the period of nine months since you
assumed the office of Accredited Representative of the Australian
Government in the United Kingdom War Cabinet-a period I should
like to say I regard as one of very considerable achievement under
ever present difficulties which would have disheartened many who
do not possess your high personal attributes.

After a careful perusal of your letter and the note which
accompanied it [2] I am forced to the conclusion that despite
Herculean efforts we have still to travel a considerable distance
before reaching the goal of our desire.

In this acknowledgment of your helpful letter, I content myself by
saying that what you have done and are continuing to do to realise
our objective has my grateful endorsement. I shall, however, now
that you have mentioned it, give some thought to the serious and
regrettable position which would arise were we through any
unforeseen circumstances to be deprived of your valuable services
as Accredited Representative.

The cablegrams we have exchanged and those that have passed
between Mr. Churchill and myself have shown in the clearest
language that we believe the Australian Government should be
granted the opportunity through its Accredited Representative of
learning essential facts regarding developments and trends of
policy in sufficient time to enable its views to be considered at
the War Cabinet before major decisions vital to the Australian
nation are taken. That belief must be constantly maintained.

Whatever may delay or impede the full realisation of our hopes for
satisfactory representation in the United Kingdom War Cabinet, in
the light of the considerations you have dealt with so fairly in
your letter, [?must] be accepted and I therefore urge you to
continue to pursue the policy you have so far found at least
partially successful despite the difficulties existing.

With regard to Prime Minister Churchill's reaction to your
vigorous endeavour to fulfil the task allotted to you by the
present Commonwealth Government and in regard to which you have
seen fit to make me cognisant of your feelings, you can be assured
that your attitude and actions have my full support and that of my
colleagues. I think that perhaps when viewed against the magnitude
of the task which is being shouldered by the great leader of the
Empire our 'trouble' is a comparatively small one. I am in
agreement with you that it is of the highest importance that
nothing untoward must be permitted to arise which would be likely
to disturb the present cordial relations that exist between Mr.

Churchill and the Australian Government and it may be that by the
patient pursuit of the plan you are now working to we will secure
a more satisfactory voice in the War Cabinet when it meets to deal
with major questions of immediate or post war concern to our
country.

JOHN CURTIN