Cablegram 146 [1] CANBERRA, 25 August 1943
PERSONAL SECRET
Your telegram No. 8 to Australia. [2] War Crimes Commission.
Australia agrees with your insistence that Soviet Government must
be made to understand constitutional and international position of
Dominions. I therefore suggest that in any representations in
Moscow, Canadian Minister should act in co-operation with
Australian Charge d'Affaires. It is intolerable if status of
Dominions is to be questioned in this way. [3]
At the same time I think Canada should be very careful when
combined bodies are being set up with United States and United
Kingdom to recognise that Australia's status is equivalent to that
of Canada and I am sure you will understand that we feel as
strongly on the matter as you do.
I have heard reference to a proposed combined body to deal with
mutual aid. Why Australia should be omitted from such a body I
quite fail to understand. [4] I am quite sure you will not fail to
co-operate with Australian High Commissioner in Ottawa and regard
yourself as representing Australia when for obvious reasons we can
have no Australian responsible Minister on the spot. Best wishes.
[5]
[AA:A989, 43/735/580]