While I fully appreciate the importance of the questions which you
feel preclude your leaving Australia before April next [1], it is
desirable that I should let you know how I see the position as
viewed from this end of the world.

The pace of events in Europe, both military and political, is
quickening almost every day and I believe that over the next 3 or
4 months fundamental decisions will have to be taken that will
profoundly affect the conduct of the war and will shape the whole
future course of the world.

In these decisions Australia is vitally concerned and it is
essential that she should have a voice in shaping them. Her
influence however can only be effective if you yourself can come
here and, with your personal position and authority as the Prime
Minister, express the views of Australia.

Even if a meeting of Empire Prime Ministers was not contemplated,
I would still urge that you should come here before the end of the
present year, so that by personal contact with Churchill you could
influence United Kingdom policy in the right direction. The
presence of Smuts, Mackenzie King and Fraser, if his health
permits, would enable you to influence the policy of the Empire as
a whole.

Weighing what I am convinced you could do here against the great
value of your presence in Australia over the next few months, I
cannot avoid the conclusion that the greatest service you could
render to Australia, to the Empire and to the world would be to
come. Forgive my importuning you in this way but I believe you
know me well enough to realise that I am doing it because I feel
deeply.

BRUCE