(Due to arrive Melbourne-3.7.26)

My dear P.M.,

Desmond Fitzgerald [1] was in London last week and in conversation
with Batterbee [2] of the Dominions Office, suggested that it
would be a good thing if Chamberlain [3] were to see
representatives of the Dominions on his return from the June 28th
meeting of the Committee to investigate the composition of the
League Council. [4] He would be able to put them in possession of
full information on the subject which would enable debates on the
subject to be arranged in such Dominion parliaments as wished to
do so. He made the good point that such debates would have the
effect of strengthening the hand of H.M.G., and would be good
world propaganda for the British point of view with regard to the
future composition of the Council. It is assumed, from what is
known of the standpoint of the various Dominion Governments on the
subject last March, that the debates would end in resolutions
favourable to the policy of H.M.G.

It is, I think, a useful suggestion, and particularly so as
emanating from the Foreign Secretary of the I.F.S.

However, the holding of the meeting to discuss the future of the
permanent seats, which is now down for June 28th, may possibly be
postponed in view of the fact that the pressure which is being
brought to bear on Brazil and Spain may not have had time to
mature by that date. Chamberlain will discuss this informally at
the regular Council Meeting on June 7th.

I sat next to a man named Carruthers [5] at dinner lately, one of
the Duke of York's equerries. He said that he was very pleased to
have the chance of going to Australia. Apparently he rather
suffers from opening Bazaars and other shows that neither the King
or the Prince of Wales want to be bothered with, and the fact of
being third string is rather getting on his nerves. His two
younger brothers have definite jobs in the Navy and Air Force but
he has nothing concrete to do except these occasional and rather
trifling public functions. Carruthers told me that he very much
hopes that some day he may have a chance of doing the job of
Governor-General of a Dominion. He (Carruthers) thinks he could do
it satisfactorily -if he had a good staff-not only a good English
staff but at least one or two good men from the Dominion concerned
who knew the people and the country. His great disability is his
stuttering which he tries very hard to conquer and which is said
to be getting less noticeable. He frequently rehearses a speech in
private and never falters but when he gets up in public he
sometimes has great difficulty in getting his words out. Words
starting with a hard 'C' give him great trouble. 'Canberra' will
be a big hurdle for him!

Keith Murdoch [6] was in to see me a few days ago, having reached
here via Japan and New York. He says he is strengthened in his
view that Japan represents no menace to Australia for a generation
at least, and that their 'westernisation' is rather tinpot. He has
'originated' the idea that it would be a good plan to have
Australian attaches at Tokyo and Washington.

I have just this moment spoken on the telephone to Bland [7],
Tyrrell's [8] private secretary, a very good fellow but a most
diplomatic diplomat. I wanted to know something about a telegram
which I had heard had just arrived from Egypt. I finished up by
asking hi-in if Tyrrell was worried about the Cairo position and
got the reply 'Just as much as you can imagine he might be, but no
more'-which as a reply is as useful as it appears -but no more!
I have not mentioned the fact that my brother [9] told me some
weeks ago that they had heard by cable from you that your American
trip was postponed. I have not, therefore, proceeded to finalise
two or three other draft speeches that I have had in preparation.

In order to complete the file, however, I will finish these off
and send them out to you as I have opportunity.

I spent the last weekend in Paris but did not gather anything very
much of importance that was not common knowledge on this side,
except the very interesting rumour that a coalition Government of
Briand [10] and Poincare [11] was a possibility, as a way out of
the rotten political situation that exists. It sounds an oil and
water combination-a Facing-both-ways, but I can just see that it
might be effective.

Italy is quiet at the moment. Tyrrell came back from a holiday
there lately with a very much increased regard for Mussolini. They
are immersed in putting into effect their new Trade Union
legislation.

The forthcoming number of the 'Round Table', which is now in the
Press, will have some interesting things to say about Canadian
Nationalist aspirations. It will also bring to light an
interesting (if not in present circumstances quite practical)
suggestion that the League Council should be differently composed
to deal with different questions, i.e. that it should contain as
permanent members the representatives of the big powers as a fixed
nucleus, together with representatives of groups of states
concerned to deal with specific problems in which these individual
states are interested. It has the basis of a sound idea, I think.

I find Philip Kerr [12] a most interesting and clear-minded man on
a wide range of subjects. He is responsible for the main political
article in each 'Round Table'. Like everyone else, he has some
prejudices, but he defends them vigorously when attacked. He has
the heaven-sent gift of clear exposition of his thoughts, which I
envy him.

You may notice that the amount of material that is going to you
for Major Jones [13] on Communist subjects is increasing
considerably. I think it is proving a useful liaison.

I am, Yours sincerely,
R. G. CASEY