2. In our view it is essential that the attitude of the United
Kingdom Government in relation to the effective International
status of countries like Australia should be reviewed by the new
Government, particularly by yourself and the Foreign Secretary.

3. We have just received the cable [2] explaining how it was that
Australia was not consulted before the ultimatum was recently
issued to Japan at the Potsdam Conference. When this cable is
analysed it evidences an indifference, presumably by the officials
of the Foreign Office, to what should now be the fully recognised
status and position of Australia and other Dominions. This is not
an isolated instance. Exactly the same thing occurred in
connection with the Cairo Conference when we heard from the Press
of vital decisions involving territorial adjustment in the
Pacific. Full consultation on an equal footing is the only basis
of complete confidence and co-operation.

4. I assume you are now acquainted with the general contents of
the two recent telegrams [3] from us to the Dominions Office. If
so you can fully appreciate the general nature of our case and how
we feel about it. I need only add, with regard to the future
treatment of Italy, a reference to Australia's part in the war
against Italy, especially in Greece, Crete, North Africa, the
Levant and at sea, and also because the whole of Italy's former
colonies are on the highway from Australia to Great Britain. I am
sure you are also aware of the fact that for a vital period of the
European war more than half of the personnel of the air crews of
the Royal Air Force came from the Dominions.

5. Frankly, I think that Mr. Lloyd George [4] gave more effective
recognition of the role of the Dominions in the settlement of
world peace than the United Kingdom has done in connection with
the present European war. I would suggest you might study the
extraordinary series of documents by which the express mention of
the name of Australia and the other Dominions belligerent was
deliberately excluded from the list of countries with whom the
armistice with Germany was made. Because of all this we asked for
and received definite undertakings from Mr. Churchill speaking on
behalf of the War Cabinet during the London talks in April last
that we would be regarded as parties principal in the Peace
Settlement.

6. The inclusion of China in the Council in respect of European
affairs and the non-inclusion of the Dominions seems to me to be
absolutely unjust and almost irrational. The fact that China is a
permanent member of the Security Council of the proposed World
Organisation is beside the point because the charter clearly
contemplates that the Peace Settlement shall be in the hands of
the Governments actively concerned in the war and not in the hands
of the Organisation and that the peace terms shall be carried out
by those Governments. Australia is one of those Governments.

7. Our desire is to work in the closest harmony with you but the
events of 1942 in the Pacific have produced a deep impression in
this Country and it is quite impossible to expect Australia to
have these matters cleared through London instead of having a
right to participate as a principal in the planning of the Peace
Settlement, not only in the Pacific but in Europe. The only
effective way of exercising this right is as a full member of the
Council of Foreign Ministers and I am convinced that if you stood
out for this membership could not in justice be refused by the
other powers to such active belligerents as Australia, Canada and
other British Dominions.

8. I am hopeful that you will assist in bringing this necessary
expansion of the Council and that you will not fail to communicate
with me personally whenever you are at all disposed to do so.

HERBERT EVATT

[AA : A3196, 1945, FOLDER, OUTWARDS MOST SECRET, 0.20804/825]

1 Cablegram D1367, dispatched 3 August. On file AA : A3195, 1945
I.25164. Addison pledged 'to maintain and develop the system of
close cooperation and consultation between the United Kingdom
Government and other Governments of the British Commonwealth'.

2 Document 162.

3 Documents 141 and 149.

4 U.K. Prime Minister 1916-22.