364

Mr S.M. Bruce, High Commissioner in London, to Mr R.G. Menzies, Prime Minister

Cablegram 661 LONDON, 16 November 1939

FOR PRIME MINISTER MOST SECRET

Your telegram No.165 to Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.’ Intention of United Kingdom Government was that reply, draft sent in Circular D.682, should be forwarded to the French, and followed by oral and private discussions referred to in D.67 [3], and that no public statement should be made until such discussions had taken place and agreement arrived at.

Am not clear whether points raised in your telegram 165 were intended as suggestions for alterations to the draft reply to the French which is described in D.67 as ‘of an interim nature only’ or whether they constitute a further contribution to the general discussion of war aims initiated by your telegram of 28th October.

[4]

At meeting today between Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Dominion Ministers’ view taken was to send reply to French practically in terms of draft sent in D.68, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs indicating that it was proposed to follow the reply by personal discussions and that in no case would any public statement be made until after discussion with the Dominions.

BRUCE

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1 Document 359.

2 Document 340.

3 Document 339.

4 Document 311.

5 See Document 363.

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[AA: A981, WAR 45B, ii]