Cablegram 354 LONDON, 25 August 1939, 8.47 p.m.
SECRET FOR PRIME MINISTER
Most important development today Hitler [1] sent for Henderson.
[2] Object or result of interview not yet known. The Ambassador at Rome [3] in close touch with Ciano [4] and still exploring method for useful intervention by Mussolini [5] with Hitler.
Observations by Curtin [6] published here today will be used in German propaganda to maximum extent most desirable induce if possible during the present critical days refrain from similar statements.
BRUCE
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1 Adolf Hitler, German Chancellor.
2 Sir Nevile Henderson, U.K. Ambassador to Germany.
3 Sir Percy Loraine.
4 Count Galeazzo Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister.
5 Benito Mussolini, Italian Head of State.
6 For a report of the statement by John Curtin, Leader of the Labor Party Opposition, see Melbourne Argus, 25 August 1939, p.
11. He said, inter alia, ‘He would be a bold mm who would commit the Commonwealth and the lives of Australians as a pawn in this matter. For my part, I say that the safety of the Australian people impels us to recognise our inability to send Australians overseas to participate in a European war’.
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[AA: A981, GERMANY 83B, iii]