Many thanks for your recent letter [1] and for the help you have
given my wife in her efforts to get across to join me. I
understand that she expects to leave at an early date and I won't
be sorry to see the rest of my family again, I can assure you.

I had a letter [2] from Martin recently which raised the question
of the desirability of my return to Melbourne at an early date. I
have given this matter a good deal of thought and last week
discussed it with Chadwick. [3] He very definitely took the view
that it was most undesirable that I should return at this stage
both from my own point of view and from the point of view of
Australia having some representation in the scheme. [4] Eventually
I promised to continue with this work throughout next year
provided you and the University would agree to my release for that
period. Accordingly he said he would approach the British
Chancellor [5] immediately to get a request forwarded to Australia
through the High Commissioner. No doubt this request [6] will have
been dealt with ere you receive this letter.

I feel this was the correct decision to have made, not only on
personal, but also on much broader grounds. I wish I could give
you some idea of the stupendous scale on which the work is being
undertaken, but this is not possible. Personally I have not a
doubt but that the strength and influence of a nation in the
future will be determined to a considerable extent by its progress
in this field. I think therefore it would be wrong for Australia,
having got such a slender toe-hold in the scheme to lose even that
at present.

Again owing to the urgent immediate demands for scientific
manpower in other projects, England has not been represented to
anything like the extent that would have been desirable. Thus it
seems wrong to allow the dispersal of the inadequate British
manpower resources on the job at present.

Further there is the question of American sensitiveness to the
Pacific War. The view is held that it would be diplomatically
wrong to cease the present arrangement immediately the European
War is over.

As far as I can gather the kind of program that is envisaged is
that I should probably remain here through the earlier months of
next year and afterwards probably go to England for a time.

Of course I well understand my obligations to the University and
to Martin personally to return when practicable to take my part in
the re-building of the Melbourne laboratory, particularly from the
research angle. I feel however that in the long run the interests
of the University would be better served by my remaining longer on
this job.

I felt I should write to let you know of my position in respect to
these matters. I am writing also to Medley [7] and Martin to
explain the position to them.

I am still finding the work here most interesting. I am now
stationed in the 'deep South' and living conditions are not as
comfortable as at Berkeley. However one must hand it to the
Americans to have built a considerable city where 18 months ago
was virgin forest. It appears likely I may be returning to
Berkeley later. An additional reason for my looking forward to the
arrival of the family is that accommodation for families here is
much more comfortable than for single men.

E. H. S. BURHOP