MOST IMMEDIATE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER MOST SECRET AND PERSONAL HIMSELF ONLY

My telegram 165[A]. [1] In dealing with the prisoners of war
question at War Cabinet meeting (my telegram 167[A]) [2], the
Prime Minister twice expressed his regret that I had not been at
the War Cabinet meeting where the matter was dealt with.

He said that the question was urgent and had had to be dealt with
at a meeting of the United Kingdom members summoned to deal with
domestic questions.

This was hardly in accord with facts but in view of the
handsomeness of the Prime Minister's apology-and nobody can do
this better when he wants to-I thought it more tactful not to draw
attention to this. You can, I think, now regard this episode as
closed.

BRUCE