Telegram from the Department of External Affairs to all missions abroad
(Personal) (Copy)

Obtain widest possible publicity for statement in immediately preceding cablegram.¹ Following to guide you in your attitude when expressing your views to authorities and other influential people.

Recent Press reports concerning our vulnerability and likelihood of defence agreement between ourselves and British are part of a campaign designed to force us into the war.

Government determined to maintain neutrality even in face of offers of concessions on Partition problem. Departure from neutrality would break the unprecedented national unity achieved on basis of that policy. We shall of course resist invasion from any quarter.

Supposed dangers of neutrality far less than dangers of any policy likely to lead to our involvement in war. Latter would entail internal division and disaster and make us cockpit of final struggle.

Reference to Ireland in Churchill's speech yesterday² may have conveyed suggestion to some people that there is secret collaboration between the two Governments. All such suggestions should be met with the emphatic statement that neutrality is the fixed policy of the Government and the unanimous desire of the people and that the Government is resolved to maintain country's neutrality in all circumstances.