Received 5 August 1945

Your telegram 163 27th July. [1]

Have had long talks with Bevin and Addison [2] with regard to the
points raised in your telegrams 205 27th July and 209 1st August
[3] to the Dominions Office. These talks were a refreshing
experience and I am convinced that under the new Government the
feeling of frustration that one had with regard to consultation
under the old regime will be removed. In the discussions we
covered the whole field of Empire consultation and my somewhat
emphatically put points were sympathetically received.

With regard to the specific question of our direct association
with the Council of Foreign Ministers Bevin outlined the practical
difficulties, particularly emphasising that our inclusion would
open the door for a U.S.S.R. claim that Poland should be added and
one has to admit that there was something in his argument.

Official reply to telegrams 205 and 209 is being despatched today.

You will be interested to learn that Bevin by his toughness and
forthrightness created a considerable impression at Potsdam.

BRUCE