Dear Professor Smiddy,

Your letters of the 9th April¹ and 24th March² about the League Council.

The attitude of Great Britain, if you have correctly measured it, is incomprehensible. There is no shadow of doubt that we shall not allow our independence to be interfered with by the British either at Geneva or elsewhere, but what reason have they to suppose that we have sinister motives in wishing to be members of the Council. We have always tried to convince the British that their interests are best served by the greatest possible degree of recognition of Dominion independence. Our cooperation with the other Members of the British Commonwealth is to be measured exactly by the degree of independence we enjoy within the group. It would be quite out of place to give any assurances to the individuals who consider that we should think it worthwhile to oppose the British in the Council for the sake of appearing more independent. We intend to be guided in each case by the merits as we always have been at the League. Any attempt on the part of the Foreign Office to get other members of the Commonwealth to vote against us will hardly promote good feeling and cooperation.

We have informed all the Dominions of our intention to be a candidate. So far only Canada has replied. She has promised her support.

If the opportunity arises you should express your amazement at the attitude of mind you have described in your letters.