276

Commonwealth Government to Lord Cranborne, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

Cablegram 81 7 February 1941,

MOST SECRET

Your telegram 69 of 31st January. [1] His Majesty’s Government in Commonwealth of Australia will be represented at conversations at Singapore commencing 22nd February by Sir Ragnar Colvin [2] and Senior Officers from Army and Air force. In meantime, more junior representatives are proceeding to Netherlands East Indies for discussions on detailed points and exchange of information. Upon completion of discussions they will proceed to Singapore to furnish information for purposes of broader conversations there.

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1 Document 265.

2 Chief of the Naval Staff. On 15 February the Commonwealth Govt notified Cranborne (cablegram 96) and the Prime Minister, R. G.

Menzies (cablegram 62), that Colvin would not be able to attend the conversations, and that Australia would be represented by Rear Admiral J. G. Crace; Maj Gen J. Northcott, Deputy Chief of the General Staff; Air Commodore W. D. Bostock, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff; Colonel W. M. Anderson and Lt Commander G. C. Oldham.

See file AA:A1608, AA27/1/1.

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[AA:A3196, 1941, 0.1614]