I am attaching for your information copies of two despatches which
I have recently received from Mr. Shaw at Tokyo. [1] I do not know
what importance should be attached to these despatches, but have
asked for an indication of the sources from which the information
was obtained, and I have taken steps to see that there should be
no distribution of these despatches.

The implications are, however, so serious that I thought I would
send them to you, in order that you can find out whether the
reported attitude of American officers at Tokyo in any way
reflects official policy. Australian forces were sent to Japan for
the purpose of maintaining control in Japan. Any other duties
assumed by the American forces along the lines indicated in the
despatch might easily involve Allied forces directly or
indirectly, without the Governments concerned being fully
consulted. If the reports are correct, and if the alleged
instructions to the American forces at Tokyo have come from
Washington, immediate consideration should perhaps be given to the
withdrawal of Australian forces in Japan. It might easily be that
the British withdrawal is in some way related to the type of
information Mr. Shaw has sent down.

I have watched with interest New York reports and the growing
tension, not only in New York, but in Europe. At the moment,
attention is focused away from the Japanese area, but this might
finally be the critical area. Looking ahead, we must be careful
not to be placed in a position in which we have no free choice,
but are led by a series of circumstances into political disputes
which have a relatively indirect bearing upon Australia and
perhaps even the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Before leaving the United States, I think you should endeavour to
ascertain the mind of political leaders in America. I should be
glad if you could let me know by letter your impressions after you
have seen both Service and political leaders, and then perhaps
some further discussions should take place in the United Kingdom.