(Due to arrive Canberra 29.6.29)

My dear P.M.,

I won't really be Sorry to see the last of the 'Discovery' [1]
when she leaves the West India Docks early in August. I have
looked round in vain for someone to shuffle the work off on to,
and have rather reluctantly had to do it myself.

The Hudson's Bay Company have returned again to the charge, and
had McDougall [2] and myself to lunch today. They want to go right
ahead now with arrangements for the formation of a company to
exploit the Australian sector of the Antarctic. As a result of the
meeting, we asked them to put on paper, in draft form, what they
proposed, let McDougall and myself vet it, and eventually send the
result out to you as a basis for negotiation-to which they agreed.

In this way we will be able to eliminate some of the crudities
from the proposal and, I hope, reduce it to a form in which it
will be something approaching political possibility.

In the course of the conversation, the Hudson's Bay Company let
slip the fact that they are in negotiation with Irvin & Johnson
[3] for the similar joint development of the 'South African
Sector' of the Antarctic. This may mean that complications with
South Africa are imminent.

I send in another letter by this mail a description of the
situation with regard to the Air service from England to
Australia. India. is a stumbling block now.

I send a few cuttings with regard to Australia that may be of
interest to you.

I am watching with the greatest interest your efforts with regard
to Arbitration. [4]

I am, Yours sincerely,
R.G. CASEY