Cablegram 250 WASHINGTON, 2 April 1941, 6.21 p.m.
MOST SECRET
Chief of Naval Staff [1] from Naval Attache. [2]
Reference my telegram 199 [3], paragraph 2, and Acting Prime Minister’s telegram No. 16 [4], paragraph 17. Final report envisages in some circumstances Pacific Fleet (with main base at Hawaii) operating in Caroline Islands area. Navy Department’s War Plans Division are investigating the problem of advanced bases to the south and would appreciate Commonwealth Government’s intentions regarding Rabaul e.g. garrison and fixed defences.
CASEY
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1 Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, but see Document 355, note 2.
2 Commander H. M. Burrell.
3 Document 355.
4 Dispatched to February. It repeated to Casey the text of Document 300, and paragraph 2 of Document 285. See file AA :
A1608, AA27/1/1.
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[AA: A981, FAR EAST 25B, i]