[Written from Geneva]

My dear Prime Minister,

To-day's news brings the information of your Government's defeat
in Committee upon the Referendum amendment, and theJjournal de
Geneve announces an immediate dissolution, and the Daily Mail
reports a General Election at the end of October. [1] I fear this
must all mean that the load of work which you have to tackle will
once again be intensified. I therefore shall not inflict any long
letter upon you.

Since my last letter, things have been very busy on the economic
side of the Assembly. On Friday last I arranged a meeting of the
British Empire members of the Second Committee with Graham. [2] I
enclose two statements which I prepared for this meeting-one
dealing with the difficulties facing the Dominions and India over
the British attitude on the League and Tariffs, and the other with
our desires in regard to the League and economic information. We
had a most useful meeting. Graham proved sympathetic and South
Africa, New Zealand, India, and Irish Free State backed our point
of view.

On Monday Graham made an excellent speech. He strongly backed our
economic information proposals, and in his references to the
lowering of tariffs kept Europe so completely in the foreground as
to make it clear that the British proposals were for Europe rather
than for the world. I shall send you a verbatim copy of Graham's
speech by next mail together with some comments on the economic
unity of Europe idea.

To-day Major Marr [3] spoke in the Assembly to a rather thin
House. His speech went well and I was delighted to find that while
the British delegates found his remarks on things economic quite
satisfactory, India, South Africa, and Ireland were all really
delighted with the way in which he expressed their point of view.

I will forward a copy of this portion of his speech by next mail.

About the Imperial Conference and Canada-I only received your
reply to my cable just three hours before MacDonald [4] left
Geneva, so could not arrange to see him. Sir Sydney Chapman [5]
however, had an interview so I arranged for him to let MacDonald
have your point of view. With Graham I had a long talk. He
obviously personally prefers the idea of London for the Imperial
Economic Conference but stated that he had not been consulted
before the British reply was sent to the Canadian invitation or
rather I suppose, the Canadian approach to an invitation. [6] I am
keeping in touch with Casey [7] about this matter.

May I conclude this brief letter with the expression of a very
sincere hope that the burden of another election campaign may not
prove too crushing and that you will be enabled to continue your
work for Australia and for the Empire.

[Handwritten]

With the most sincere personal good wish,

Yours sincerely,
F. L. MCDOUGALL