World War II, 1939-1948

Component identifier:

Series 31

Content Summary:

The material gathered in this series includes some Cabinet documents, agenda, minutes and summaries of decisions, and reports by the military. There are the cables sent by Menzies, who was in London from January to May 1941, to Arthur Fadden, the Acting Prime Minister. Menzies went to London to consult with the British War Cabinet and en route visited the Australian troops in the Middle East. Later, on the advice of British generals, an Australian Division was dispatched from the Middle East to participate in the Greek Campaign, with disastrous results. A written assessment is contained in File 1.

The cables sent from Menzies to Fadden on political, military, and intelligence matters are indexed.

Other Cabinet documents discuss Australia's capacity to contribute to the war by recruiting and training armed forces, and by harnessing the limited manufacturing resources and skills of the civilian population. One large scale enterprise was the setting up of munitions and small arms in various States.

There are files of economic submissions by Professor Copland, and one on tariffs and trade with the special trade agreement negotiated with the UK in 1938. Other items relate to the war-time government measures of introducing petrol rationing and the need to convince the Australian people to support the war effort. A radio series was devised and the scripts are filed here.

Some other topic included: Liberal Party problems, 1944/1945; Appointment of the Governor of Commonwealth Bank; Menzies' personal notes of June 1941; Post war reconstruction; Highlights of the Australian war effort; Loan Council, April 1941; Overseas telecommunication; John Curtin, J.B. Chifley (Labor Prime Minister); File labelled "War history matters". Requesting 1967 photocopies from Australian Archives, but also original letter from the Minister of the Interior, 1949, about payment to Paul Hasluck for writing the official war history and announcing his wish to enter politics.; 2 files of photocopies of 1941 cables from the National Archives of Australia.

Subjects:

Politics and government

Contents

Access and use