CAB129-45 — Page 14

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ANNEX B

DRAFT PERSONAL MESSAGE TO MR. MENZIES

I got back from my visit to Southern Africa last week-end,

after a most interesting, but exhausting tour. I had, of course, kept

in touch with developments and had followed with very great interest

the discussions which you and the New Zealanders had with the Americans

about the project for a Defence Pact.

This obviously is a development of the first importance, not

only for you, but also for us as well. We certainly take it most

seriously and the Cabinet here had already had the matter in front of

them before I got back Indeed the sole reason why we have not been

able to let you have a reply earlier is that Ministers here wanted time

to consider it carefully. This is a very big thing and we want to help in

every way to bring it to fruition with the maximum benefit to the common

cause.

I was very disturbed to find that there had been some misunder-

standing between us about the earlier stages of this business. If we on

our side have done anything in any way to cause this misunderstanding,

then I am very sorry.

It was certainly not our intention to put a spoke

in the wheel in any way: all we were anxious to do was to let you have

our preliminary views at the earliest possible moment so that they could

be taken into account before policy was formulated. The memorandum

which Harrison gave to the Prime Minister on the 22nd February

shows that your Government feels strongly on a number of points,

quite understand your anxieties and I am seeing Harrison and giving him

an aide memoire which deals with these points of detail.

I wish to make it clear that we fully understand the defence

We

requirements of Australia and New Zealand and have always been

Page 14 anxious to help you to secure a guarantee of your security b the United

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