Cablegram PM37 [1] CANBERRA, 9 April 1942
MOST SECRET IMMEDIATE
Your S.30 of 6th April. [2] Proposal for new European front has been discussed by War Cabinet and Advisiory War Council who feel that they are not in a position to express an opinion on what is essentially a strategical question and should be decided as such.
[3]
They are, however, most strongly of the view that such an adventure should not be undertaken in response to clamour from any group of public opinion or the press or for political reasons.
This question is, therefore, one in the first place for the views of the experts responsible for the grand strategy of the war and it is noted that Field Marshal Dill [4] and Admiral King [5] do not favour it.
CURTIN
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1 Repeated to the High Commissioner in the United Kingdom as no.
3027.
2 On file AA:A3300, 233. Evatt considered that a new front would divert attention from the Pacific and thus adversely affect the flow of munitions to this theatre. He also feared that from a military viewpoint the proposal could result in disaster and loss of prestige.
3 See Advisory War Council minute 895 of 8 April in AA:A2682, vol.
5. There is no record of this issue having been discussed by War Cabinet.
4 Leader of the U.K. Joint Staff Mission in Washington.
5 Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Navy.
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[AA:A2684, 931]