Cablegram 91 30 August 1939,
IMMEDIATE SECRET
In the present international situation the Commonwealth Governmerit desire to place the ships of the R.A.N. and their personnel at the disposal of the United Kingdom Government, but find it necessary to stipulate that no ships (other than H.M.A.S.
‘Perth’ [1] should be taken from Australian waters without prior concurrence of Commonwealth Government.
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1 The cruiser Perth was then in the West Indies on her delivery voyage from the Royal Navy to the Royal Australian Navy.
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[AA: A461, AB 337/1/5]