(Due to arrive Canberra 11.10.29)

My dear P.M.,

I have let it be known privately to senior officials in the
Departments with which I come in contact that the fact has not
passed our notice that, since the advent of this Government, but
little regard has been given to the wishes of Australia in
international or inter-imperial affairs. They all realise this,
and deplore it-but, as they say, it comes about through the
members of this Government having had practically no previous
experience of the working of the imperial machine-and at the same
time being feverishly anxious to make the several international
gestures that their party platform demands. It is thought that
their period of office will have the good effect of teaching them
the stage at which imperial affairs have arrived. One of the
benefits of the holding of an Imperial Economic Conference at
Ottawa is that it will also further this desirable end.

I am generally of the opinion that specialised international
lawyers are not the best conductors of government business-but
rather that they should be introduced, as technicians, at
appropriate moments to deal with technical matters. By sticking as
closely as they are obliged to do to their particular and
intricate job, they lose the general touch and fail to develop-or
possibly they disregard-the political touch-which I interpret as
being an appreciation of the damnability of matter and of men, but
which the precise legal mind probably calls the insidious habit of
compromise. However, I started this involved sentence with the
decision to qualify it, and I do so gladly in favour of Harrison
Moore [1] who I think has done very well indeed for us at Geneva.

What this year's delegation would have done without him, I tremble
to think. He is a charming person to work with, and has a degree
of commonsense which is very refreshing.

Should it so happen that Australia achieves a seat on the Council
of the League in September 1930, it seems to me that we cannot
avoid maintaining in London an Australian representative of proper
weight, in order to attend League Council meetings and at the same
time do other League business for us. In this event it seems to me
that Harrison Moore is indicated. He is free of definite ties and
I have reason to believe he would accept the position-although he
would not seek it, as his wife would (other things being equal)
rather spend her time in Australia. He is respected in London and
in Geneva, and Australian prestige (for what that is worth) would
undoubtedly be increased by his representation. [2]

I am told by Collins [3] (Financial Adviser) that Dickinson [4]
(British Phosphate Commissioner) was given �50,000 on the sale of
the Pacific Phosphate Company to the three Governments after the
War, as compensation for the loss of his job of (I think) Managing
Director. This, notwithstanding the fact that he was immediately
given the job of British Phosphate Commissioner. Collins says he
is quite certain of the above.

Madigan's [5] recent Central Australian investigations by air
attracted some attention here-but I think solely by reason of his
flippant remark that these large unoccupied areas were the best
repository of old safety razor blades that he knew!

I am, Yours sincerely,
R.G. CASEY

Faced with a deteriorating economy and irritated by continuing
strikes and lockouts, the coalition led by Bruce in August 1929
brought down a Bill whereby Commonwealth arbitration machinery
would largely have been dismantled, leaving the industrial
relations field to the States. W.M. Hughes led several coalition
and independent members to the Labor lobby, the Speaker (Sir
Littleton Groom) refused to give a casting vote to the Government
in committee, and the Government was defeated. The Government was
defeated at elections on 12 October (Bruce losing his own seat)
and a Labor Government led by James Scullin took office on 22
October. A month later Bruce concluded his political
correspondence with Casey, though Casey for a time continued to
keep him informed of British and international developments.