Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 133
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
Meeting With the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Richard Casey
Mr. Casey called on me this afternoon at his urgent request. He had two matters on his mind, one of which was Anglo-American relations. He referred to the message which he had sent to Eden and which was reported to us through our Embassy at Canberra. He appreciated my message to him. His message had been received by Churchill in Eden’s absence and had brought a strong reaction from Mr. Churchill to him, the general tenure of which was that he was an apostate to the Empire. This did not cause him to change his attitude but bothered him because he felt strongly that our attitude in the ANZUS Council was right and he and Menzies had great difficulty in, first, knowing what was the real trouble in London and, secondly, knowing what to do about it. He hoped that during this meeting he might have the opportunity of talking this matter out thoroughly with me because he must surely have a thorough session with Eden.
I told him that I, too, was bothered by the British attitude. In part, I understood some of their attitude which I thought came from being faced by almost insurmountable problems with inadequate means and therefore the desire to find someone who is responsible for their predicaments. I had no answer; but I was ready to discuss the matter with him, not for the purpose of having this circulated throughout the Australian Government but to try to analyze with him, as an old friend who is deeply concerned about the problem, its nature and any possible steps to remedy it.
Mr. Casey said he would be glad to do this and hoped for an early opportunity when we might have an hour or two to give to it.