(Due to arrive Canberra 17.5.29)

My dear P.M.,

Referring to your recent letter in which you repeated a request of
the Minister for Defence regarding increased numbers of copies of
C.I.D. papers being sent to you for the information of the Defence
Department. You will remember that I replied, after consultation
with Hankey [1], that this would cause difficulties at this end
and that a better solution would probably be for you to have
C.I.D. papers copied at your discretion. [2]

Hankey has been turning the matter over in his mind and, from the
information that comes to him from various quarters, he fears that
there may be some dissatisfaction on the part of the Defence
Department, arising out of the fact that these papers reach them
through your office. He is a little disturbed that dissatisfaction
should have arisen, based on the fact that they get an increased
amount of information over and above what they got before and over
and above what other Dominions get. In seeking a solution, he has
to bear constantly in mind the fact that any change from the
arrangements that at present exist might (and probably would) have
to be applied to all other Dominions.

I have no doubt that the Defence Department would like to have all
C.I.D. papers of importance sent direct to them through the
respective Chiefs of Staff of the three Fighting Services here-
i.e. through completely service channels, and avoiding the
political channel altogether. I imagine that this would not appeal
to you.

I would be glad to have your views, and to know if it is your
impression that a 'situation' exists in the matter between the
staff of the Defence Department and the political element. [3] I
have suggested to Hankey that he makes no change in the scheme
until we hear from you.

I am, Yours sincerely,
R.G. CASEY