Cablegram Johcu 5 CANBERRA, [2 December 1941] [1]
MOST SECRET AND PERSONAL
I have your telegram WINCH No. 7 [2] and am grateful to you for sending it for our guidance.
I most cordially concur in your action in addressing the President [3] in the terms you have used. Your suggestion is in accord with the views expressed at the War Cabinet yesterday. [4] However, I make this further suggestion. In our view if we are to effectively deter Japan from an aggressive move, a greater concentration of naval strength (not necessarily all British) is desirable. I believe that Japan’s obstinacy is grounded in the belief that America would, at the best, be slow to come in and that from many (corrupt group ? causes) a time lag in American shooting would be inevitable.
If in addition the President could be got to the point of giving effect to your strong personal appeal this would be a complete deterrent to Japan’s entry into the war.
CURTIN
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1 Inserted from the Prime Minister’s Dept outward cablegram register (AA : A3643, 3).
2 See Document 147, note 5.
3 Franklin D. Roosevelt.
4 See War Cabinet minute 1524 of 1 December in AA : A2673, vol. 9.
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[PRO : DO 35/1010, iii]