Curtin, Churchill & Roosevelt

CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Whilst leaders maintained generally cordial relations, there were tensions between the three countries, especially during the early part of John Curtin’s prime ministership. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations USA representation in Aust; Washington DC-Aust Legation; possible Curtin JCPML00869 visit to US, 1942. Birthday wishes from John Curtin to Franklin D Roosevelt, Franklin 30 JanuaryBirthday from to wishes John Curtin 1942. Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Telegram from Minister for Foreign Affairs, H V Evatt, to British High Commissioner, S M Bruce, 23 March 1942. John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. UK and USA – Evatt Mission, 1942. JCPML00869. Courtesy National Archives of Australia: MIOO March 1942 CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations JCPML00869. Courtesy National JCPML00869. Courtesy UK and USA – Evatt Mission, 1942. Archives of Australia: 1942 Archives MIOO March John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Telegram from Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign for from Minister H V Evatt, High Commissioner, British to Telegram S M Bruce, 23 March 1942. 23 March S M Bruce, CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Curtin’s article, The Task Ahead, was poorly received by both Roosevelt and Churchill and Roosevelt believed it indicated panic and disloyalty. However, Curtin’s ‘turn to America’ was for pragmatic reasons. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations 27 December 1941. 27 December The Herald ‘The Task Ahead’ by John Curtin. John Curtin. by Ahead’ Task ‘The LibraryCourtesy National of Australia. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Letter from Churchill to Curtin, 29 December 1941. John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. USA-Curtin’s appeal to US 1941. JCPML00869. Original held by UK Public Records Office Prem 4/50/15 CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations JCPML00869. Original held by UK Public by JCPML00869. Original held USA-Curtin’s appeal to US 1941. USA-Curtin’s Letter from Churchill to Curtin, 29 December 1941. 29 December Curtin, to fromLetter Churchill Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Records OfficeRecords 4/50/15 Prem CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Memo from Churchill to Lord Privy Seal and Dominions Secretary [nd]. John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. USA-Curtin’s appeal to US, 1941. JCPML00869. Original held by UK Public Records Office Prem 4/50/15. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

When news of the surrender in Singapore came through, Curtin sent a telegram on 17 February 1942 asking for the 6th and 7th Divisions to be returned to Australia and also for the return of the 9th Division‘at an early date’. That same day Curtin convened the Full Cabinet to authorise the War Cabinet to organise for ‘complete mobilisation...of all resources, human and material’ to ensure the defence of Australia. (JCPML00137/1/2) CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A3196, 1942/10 Archives Courtesy National Cablegram 17 February 1942 from Curtin to Churchill. Churchill. Cablegram to 1942 from 17 February Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Cablegram 17 February 1942 from Curtin to Churchill. Churchill. Cablegram to 1942 from 17 February Curtin of Australia: A3196, 1942/10 Archives Courtesy National CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

On 19 February, the day of the first bombing raid on Darwin, Churchill asked for the leading division of the returning Australian forces to be diverted to Burma. President Roosevelt, and Australia’s representatives in London, Page and Bruce, as well as Opposition members Menzies and Spender in Canberra, supported the British request urging the Curtin Government to allow those members of the 7th Division already at sea to be diverted for the defence of Burma. Standing against this strong opposition, however, Curtin firmly refused the diversion. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A3196, 1942/11 Archives Courtesy National Cablegram Curtin to Churchill, 19 February 1942. 19 February Churchill, Cablegram to Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A816, 52/302/142 Archives Courtesy National Cablegram from Sir Earle Page, Special Representative in the UK,Cablegram 1942. 19 February from Curtin, Special Sir Earle to Page, Representative CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Cablegram from Office UK Dominions 1942. 21 February Curtin, to of Australia: A2937, 47 Archives Courtesy National CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A981, War 33 Part 1 of Australia: A981, War Archives Courtesy National Cablegram from Richard Casey, US Minister, to Curtin, 21 February 1942. 21 February Curtin, to Minister, US Casey, Cablegram from Richard CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

When Curtin learned on the afternoon of 22 February that Churchill had ‘temporarily’ diverted the convoy his response was swift and decisive, forcing Churchill to give way and the convoy to sail on to Australia. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A816, 52/302/142 Archives Courtesy National Cablegram form Churhill to Curtin, 22 February 1942. 22 February Curtin, Cablegram Churhill to form CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A3196, 1942/11 Archives Courtesy National Cablegram from Curtin to Churchill, 23 February 1942. 23 February Churchill, Cablegram to from Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Until the 1943 election Curtin had rejected all proposals that he should travel overseas, including those from President Roosevelt urging him to visit Washington. In 1944 he travelled to the United States, Great Britain and Canada. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Letter from Roosevelt to Curtin inviting him to visit, him to 3 January inviting from Curtin Letter 1944. to Roosevelt – Australia, Diplomatic Roosevelt. of Franklin 14/9/42-13/6/44. Records Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Library Presidential D Roosevelt Franklin by JCPML00266/3. Original held CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Letter from Curtin to Roosevelt, responding to the invitation to visit, to Roosevelt, 2 February 1944. from the invitation Letter to Curtin to responding – Australia, Diplomatic Roosevelt. of Franklin 14/9/42-13/6/44. Records Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Library Presidential D Roosevelt Franklin by JCPML00266/3. Original held CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations Telegrams between Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt regarding the Curtins’ visit in April 1944. visit the Curtins’ regarding and Eleanor Roosevelt between Franklin Telegrams – Australia, Diplomatic Roosevelt. of Franklin 14/9/42-13/6/44. Records Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Library Presidential D Roosevelt Franklin by JCPML00266/3. Original held CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Documents from the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in London, May 1944. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Agenda for Conference of Dominion Prime Ministers, May 1944. John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Prime Ministers’ Conference, 1944. JCPML00869. Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A5954, 662/1 CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Minutes of Staff Conference for the British War Cabinet Chiefs of Staff Committee, May 1944. John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Prime Ministers’ Conference, 1944. JCPML00869. Courtesy National Archives of Australia: A5954, 5/5 CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations JCPML00869. Courtesy National Archives JCPML00869. Courtesy National Prime Conference, 1944. Ministers of Australia: A5954, 5/5 Note from Churchill to Curtin, 25 May 1944. 25 May Curtin, to from Churchill Note Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations

Curtin wrote regular reports for the Acting Prime Minister, Frank Forde, whilst he was in attendance at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference. In this example Curtin outlines discussion on international relations following a postwar settlement. CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations . JCPML00869. Courtesy National . JCPML00869. Courtesy Prime Conference, 1944 Ministers’ John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Archives of Australia: A5954, 656/3 Archives Cablegram report from Curtin to Forde, 16 May 1944. 16 May Forde, Cablegram to from report Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations . JCPML00869. Courtesy National . JCPML00869. Courtesy Prime Conference, 1944 Ministers’ John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Archives of Australia: A5954, 656/3 Archives Cablegram report from Curtin to Forde, 16 May 1944. 16 May Forde, Cablegram to from report Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations . JCPML00869. Courtesy National . JCPML00869. Courtesy Prime Conference, 1944 Ministers’ John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Archives of Australia: A5954, 656/3 Archives Cablegram report from Curtin to Forde, 16 May 1944. 16 May Forde, Cablegram to from report Curtin CURTIN, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT Wartime Relations . JCPML00869. Courtesy National . JCPML00869. Courtesy Prime Conference, 1944 Ministers’ John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Library. Prime Ministerial John Curtin Archives of Australia: A5954, 656/3 Archives Cablegram report from Curtin to Forde, 16 May 1944. 16 May Forde, Cablegram to from report Curtin