Cablegram 677 30 December 1940,
SECRET
Your telegram 502. [1] Anglo-Italian Treaty. We appreciate your reasoning and in view of your statement that treaties of this character are ipso facto nullified by outbreak of war and the fact that this attitude would be taken at peace settlement we are prepared to dispense with separate action suggested.
This treaty has received much publicity and many representations have been made to Commonwealth Government to secure abrogation. In circumstances we propose to issue a short statement to press stating that treaty is nullified by outbreak of war. [2]
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1 Document 234.
2 The statement was issued by Sir Frederick Stewart, Minister for External Affairs, on 8 January 1941 See file AA:A3095, 45/10.
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[AA:A3196, 1940, 0.10553]