Australian Archives, Dickson, A.C.T.

CRS A816; CA 46, Department of Defence C0-ordination. Correspondence files, multiple number series, (Class 301) (Classified) 1935-1957.

item: 40/301/399 "Integration of International Convention Relating To Hospital Ships" 1943-1944.

01)Inwards teleprinter message (CS. 1992) 13h10 20 May '43 to Col. Wilson from Mr. Landau - advise location of General Blamey

02)Outwards teleprinter message (M2076) 14h00 20 May '43 from Col Wilson to Mr. Landau - Gen. Blamey with HQ 2nd Corp with Gen. Morshead...Blamey anxious to know when PM proceeding to Brisbane.

03)Inwards teleprinter message (CS. 1993) 14h04 20 May '43 to Col. Wilson from Secretary - how to contact Gen Northcott?

04)Outwards teleprinter message (M2077) 14h21 20 May '43 from Col Wilson to Secretary - Gen. Northcott arriving Melbourne this afternoon.

05)Teleprinter (CS.1995) 14h58 20 May '43 for Chief of General Staff from Secretary, Dept. of Defence - Should H.S. Manunda proceed displaying lights and unescorted, or blacked out?

06)Outwards teleprinter message (M2079) 16h10 20 May '43 from Col Wilson to Secretary - Refers to CS.1995 Gen. Northcott arriving Melbourne 5-30 p.m....confusion over intent of opening sentence in CS.1995

07)Inwards teleprinter message (CS. 2001) 16h55 20 May '43 to Col. Wilson from Secretary - Refers to M.2079...Minister addresses his communication to CinC and C. of Gen. Staff in absence of Blamey

08)Outwards teleprinter message (M2088) 18h24 20 May '43 from Col Wilson to Secretary - Refers to CS.1995 no reply available tonight.

09)Copy of teleprinter message (M.2105) 16h06 21 May '43 from Chief of the General Staff to Secretary, Dept. of Defence - Refers to CS.1995...CinC, A.M.F replied "in view of "Centaur" incident...Ships should not sail repeat not sail other than blacked out and escorted."...Blamey expected in Brisbane at 4 p.m. today.

10)Teleprinter (CS.2014) 16h51 21 May '43 to Chief of General Staff from Secretary, Dept. of Defence - Reference to M.2105 will Blamey be consulted or is it a final report?

11)Outwards teleprinter message (M2110) 18h26 21 May '43 from Chief of General Staff to Secretary, Dept. of Defence - Refers to CS.2014...Gen. Blamey consulting with Gen. MacArthur...M.2105 considered interim pending results of consultation

12)Outwards teleprinter message (D.1499) 12h08 23 May '43 from Chief of General Staff, melbourne to The Secretary, Dept. of Defence, Canberra - Refers to CS.2014 and M.2110..CinC SWPA and our CinC agreed that Manunda should sail escorted and blacked out but NO repeat NO Red Cross markings

13)Memorandum 24 May '43 for The Secretary, Dept. of External Affairs, Canberra from F.G. Shedden - advises of decision of CinC SWPA and our CinC agreed that Manunda should sail escorted and blacked out but NO repeat NO Red Cross markings

14)Outwards teleprinter message (D.1503) 16h05 23 May '43 from Miss Prince to Mr. Landau - Navy not aware of contents of D.1499...Secretary should be advised at once...

15)Outwards teleprinter message (D.1505) 16h54 23 May '43 from Miss Prince to Mr. Landau - Reference to D.1503...Maj. Baillieu..knows nothing of the back ground of message or what action is required....Navy received a copy...let the Secretary have it today

16)Memo (secret and personal MAB.294?) 17h16 28 May '43 to the Secretary, Dept of Defence from Chief of the General Staff - Reference to D.1499... what is PM's decision re Manunda...instruct Navy of PM's decision

17)Letter 29 May '43 to Gen. MacArthur from Secretary - Refers to CS.1995 20 May & D.1499 23 May reply...PM noted conclusion by Gen. Blamey and Gen. MacArtur assumed to be

18)Outwards teleprinter message (MAB-297) 20h08 28 May '43 from Col. Wilson to Secretary - Referencce to CGS teleprinted in MAB 294...Navy not in agreement with decision re Manunda...awaiting decision

19)Inwards Teleprinter message (BXM 453) 13h19 29 May '43 to Chief of the General Staff (through to Col. Wilson) from Secretary, Dept. of Defence - Refers to MAB.294 and advise in D.1499 ..PM considered it primarily an operational order for determination by GHQ...CinC SWPA agrees with PM and assumed action being taken by Commander Allied Land Forces...Parrallel message being sent by PM to Chief of Naval Staff.

20)Copy of Inwards teleprinter Message (C.S. 2080) 15h53 29 May '43 from The Prime Minister to Chief of the Naval Staff - Refers to C.S. 1995 and advice received from CinC SWPA...and that PM considered it to be primarily an operational matter for determination by GHQ

21)Letter (ref. 035108) 30 May "43 from Mr. F.G. Cummins, Dept. of Navy to The Secretary, Dept. of Defence - Refers to C.S. 2080 indicates that "the Naval Board consider that the Government should confer with the United Kingdom and Washington Authorities on the subject (Manunda) before a final decision is given...Admiralty views requested

22)Outwards teleprinter message (MAB-307) 10h54 31 May '43 from Col. Wilson to Secretary - Repeats a memorandum received for Dept. of Navy that references C.S. 2080 of 29 May '43 concernig Naval Boards desire that Government confer with UK and Washington before a final decision is given

23)Outwards teleprinter message (MAB-308) 10h59 31 May '43 from Mr. Quealy to Mr. Landau - Referencce to BMX460 and MAB 307...Text of Government protest not formally communicated to CinC

24)Outwards teleprinter message (M.2210) 21h23 31 May '43 from Col. Wilson to Mr. Galbraith - Following message from Chief of Naval Staff to Minister for Defence regarding Manunda...copy for Prime Minister

25)Outwards teleprinter message (M.2211) 21h32 31 May '43 - from Chief of Naval Staff to Minister for Defence - Detailed response of Naval Boards reservations about changing the status of Manunda

26)Outwards teleprinter message (MAB.322) 21h57 31 May '43 - To Mr. Shedden from Col. Wilson - Text of message from Chief of the Naval Staff to the Minister of Defence regarding Manunda...Gailbraith asked to make copy for the Prime Minister

27)Inwards teleprinter message (BXM.479) 9h55 1 June '43 - To Col. Wilson from Secretary - Referes to MAB.307...for your own information...CinC "takes strong exception to proposed action and reference of the matter to the Admiralty by the Naval BOard. He says it is an operational matter covered by his directive...PM to be informed of this

28)Letter 5 June '43 to The Hon. N.J.O. Makin, Minister for the Navy from The Prime Minister considered Manunda issue as primarily an operational matter for determination by GHQ...reference of the matter to Admiralty contravenes channels laid down for communication between Governments, "the attention of the Navy Department has previously been drawn to the non-observance of these directions"

29)Letter 10 June '43 to Gen. MacArthur from PM's office - concerning Manunda a copy of 5 June '43 letter to The Hon. N.J.O. Makin, Minister for the Navy forwarded for the General's information.

30)Telegram (date ?) T.O.O. 281134B from Admiralty to NSHQ ACNB NZNB CinC SA (Pass to High Commissioner) - lengthy and detailed reports concerning proposals for clarifying relevant International Conventions in relation to hospital ships ...."If the Japanese show an unmistakable intention to attack our hospital ships we fully concur with U.S. Chiefs of Staff that reprisals taken against Japanese should not be exyended to Germany or Italy unless the latter show solidarity with Japan...."

31)Letter 30 June '43 to the Secretary, Dept. of Defencefrom Secretary, Dept. of Navy - Copy of Admiralty message forwarded for information with copies to Commander, Allied Forces and the Chief of the General Staff...No reply to this message from Naval Board proposed

32)Cablegram (No. 165) 1438/I.27153 1 July '43 recd 2 July '43 from Secretary of State for Domionion Affairs, London to Prime Minister's Dept. - Any comments which Commonwealth Govt wish to offer on proposals from US Chiefs of Staff put forward concerning hospital ships

33)Memorandum 17 July '43 for The Secretary, Dept. of External Affairs, Canberra from F.G. Shedden - Reference to cablegram 165 concerning International Conventions in Relation to Hospital Ships...Gen. MacArthur's comments will be communicated to the Dept. when received

34)Letter 17 July '43 To General MacArthur from Minister for Defence - Refers to correspondence regarding the loss of Centaur and alleged Allied attcks on Japanese hospital ships...requests Gen. MacArthur for any observations on the position of hospital ships so far as the SWPA is concerned...views to be forwarded to Dominion Office

35)Letter 19 July '43 from Douglas MacArthur to Prime Minister John Curtin - Reference to 17 July letter concerning Dominion Office reference to hospital ships. "It is recommended that the Commonwealth Government concur in the position taken in this respect by the United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff."

36)Copy of Inwards teleprinter message (BXM.685) 9h42 20 July '43 from Brisbane Secretariat to Secretary - includes complete text of MacArthur's 19 July '43 letter to PM.

37)Copy of Outwards teleprinter message (D.2427) 13h00 23 July '43 from Mr. F.G. Shedden, Secretary, Dept. of Defence to Secretary, Dept. of Exrernal Affairs - Advance copy of memorandum: International Conventions in Relation to Hospital Ships - as MacArthur recommends Comm. Govt concurence with UK Chiefs of Staff...in view of his position in relation to US Chiefs of Staff, "it is suggested that no references should be made to Gen. MacArthur's views in the reply which is sent to Dominion Office Cablegram No. 165."

38)Letter 23 July '43 from Mr. Shedden to Gen. MacArthur - directed by Minister for Defence to extend thanks for 19 July leter

39)Cablegram (No. 191) 26 July '43 from PM's Dept to The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, London - Refers to Cablegram 165 ...His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia is in agreement with views of United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff."

40)Letter (049479) 30 July '43 to Secretary , Dept. of Defence from Secretary, Dept. of Navy - ...Hospital Ship "Manunda" has had all external indications, i.e., red cross markings etc., removed, and the ship has been defensively armed and painted grey."

41)Letter (052086) 10 Aug. '43 to Secretary , Dept. of Defence from Secretary, Dept. of Navy - Refers to No. 049479..."following on a request from the Chief of the General Staff, instructions have been issued that the "Manunda" is to be repainted as a hospital ship and her armament removed."

42)Letter 16 Aug. '43 from Mr. F.G. Shedden to Gen. MacArthur - refers to letter 23 July '43..cablegram despatchd to London..Advice received from Dept. of Navy from Chief of Gen. Staff to repaint Manunda as a hospital ship and remove armaments

43)LHQ SM 23696 6 Oct. '43 Consolidated Instructions re embarkation of personnel on Hospital Ships - This document cancels LHQ SM 176 of 5 Jan. '43 and SM 2023 0f 28 Jan. '43 both of which were referred to concerning who could be embarked on the Centaur

44)Letter (Chancery Series No.549/43) 11 Oct. '43 to Dept. of External Affairs, Canberra from Australian Legation, Washington. D.C. - encloses for information copy of State Dept note (30 Sept. '43) to Br. Embassy concerning the reply to be made by US to Japanese protests with regard to attacks on Japanese hospital ships...note made available by the Embassy

45)Cablegram (D.206) I.5523/4/2 SC 490. 11 Feb. '44 recvd 11 p.m. 13 Feb. '43 from The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, London to External Affairs - text of reviewed application of 10th Hague Convention of 1907 to carriage of sick, wounded and shipwrecked merchant seaman on hospital ships...does Dominion Govt agree to this?