(Due to arrive Canberra 21.3.29)

My dear P.M.,

Hankey's [1] power to influence policy in this country has been
most strikingly shown by the course of the Belligerent Rights
discussions in these last several months. He has nursed the
subject, coaxed and argued with recalcitrants, and has brought
them all out the other end-all but Cushendun [2]-in favour of
presenting a firm but tactful upper lip to the Americans and
maintaining the sanctity of high Belligerent Rights.

I am getting together material for another letter to you on the
important subject of Coast Defence, in which, with the help of
friends in several departments, I am trying to reduce the subject
to simple terms. It will probably go to you in a fortnight.

I called by arrangement on Lord Reading [3] at his office at
Imperial Chemical Industries in this week, solely with the idea of
making contact with him and the Mond [4] organisation. Their new
office building on the Embankment is very wonderful. My visit was
as much like calling on an Emperor as one is likely to experience
in these democratic days. He was very courteous and told me
something about their organisation and activities. He said that
Todhunter [5] (an I.C.I. director) was in Australia at present. He
was glad to know of the possibility of communicating
confidentially with you through my office.

I am in close touch with Mawson. [6] He is rather tactless and
very jealous of having his thunder stolen, but I can get on with
him quite well and am doing my best to help him.

There is one essential point, however, that you will need to
impress on him very firmly before the expedition sets out-and that
is that, in reality, their first and foremost duty is to chart the
coast, to plant flags and to secure the terrain so that all doubt
will be set at rest as to the sovereignty. If he fails in this, or
does it cursorily, the job will have to be done all over again.

His mind is set on scientific achievement, with which everyone
will be in accord, but the political objective has the first
claim, although it need not take up a great deal of his time.

We are on the verge of deciding to build a house in Westminster,
which may sound to you rather a harebrained proposal. We have
toothcombed most of the areas in which we would like to live and
have found nothing suitable. We have lived too long in temporary
houses and very much want a permanent headquarters. If we have to
go away we can let it.

I am following with trepidation and great interest the press
reports of the political vicissitudes that you are going through.

With best wishes, I am, Yours sincerely,
R.G. CASEY