Dear Mr. Bruce,

I am installed as you know with a room in the Cabinet Secretariat
Offices at 2, Whitehall Gardens, and so have the advantage of
being in close touch with Sir Maurice Hankey [1], who is doing
everything he can to forward the liaison scheme and to ensure that
I have access to information as to everything that is going on.

Naturally, the subject that is exercising everybody's minds at the
moment is that of the Protocol [2] and I am naturally anxious to
send you all possible information on this subject to reach you as
soon after Sir Littleton Groom's [3] arrival as possible. The
Protocol has been the subject of detailed enquiry by almost all
Government Departments and reports on the subject from their
particular points of view have, in this last week, been received
in this Office. Sir Maurice Hankey has produced a Synopsis on the
subject in which he refers to the views of the various Departments
of State and includes his own opinions.

After reading these I asked him this morning if I might send you
advance copies and at the time he gave me permission to do so.

However, just a few moments ago he asked me not to include these
papers as, after consultation with the Foreign Office and the
Colonial Office, he understands that they view the whole business
as such a high matter of State that the complete story should go
to you under their official heading. Unfortunately this is not
possible by today's mail but I expect you will receive it the week
after this.

However, Sir Maurice Hankey has given me permission to tell you in
confidence that the Departmental reports on the Protocol are
universally unfavourable to its ratification by Great Britain.

There is hardly a clause of the Protocol that is not adversely
criticised by some one or other of the Departments. I am to say,
however, that these are individual Departmental opinions and any
general condemnation of the Protocol deduced from these opinions
would be premature.

A Meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence was held this
morning at this Office on the subject of the Protocol and the
above reports were discussed. It was decided, however, to defer
any decision until very much fuller consideration had been given
to it. The Committee of Imperial Defence meets again in a
fortnight's time on this subject.

I understand that every effort will be made to avoid turning down
the Protocol without at the same time putting forward some
modification or alternative scheme that would be acceptable to
this country. The form that such alternative is to take is not yet
worked out but the whole thing is having the urgent attention of
the most prominent people focussed on it.

I am spending the weekend with Sir Maurice Hankey; and also I have
the advantage of seeing him here daily-in some cases several times
a day-although in most cases, owing to the extreme pressure of his
work I do not see him for very long. However, this ensures that I
do not miss anything of importance.

I will keep you informed by cable if necessary to supplement the
official information that goes to you.

I am, Yours sincerely,
R. G. CASEY

[Handwritten postscript]

The Cabinet wish that no unfavourable-or other official mention be
made with regard to the Protocol until the official attitude of
both the British and the Dominion Governments is clarified and in
line.

This letter is dictated in great haste to catch today's mail.