Minister to Japan, 1940-1941

Component identifier:

Series 65

Content Summary:

In August 1940 Latham was appointed the first Australian Minister to Japan and he arrived in Tokyo in December 1940. He left in September 1941 for consultations in Singapore and Australia. He was seriously ill in Singapore, but returned to Australia in November 1941. With the outbreak of War his appointment was terminated.

Items 1-495 are mainly letters of congratulation on Latham's appointment as Minister, dating from August-November 1940. They are followed by a typescript entitled 'The Japanese at home,' some newscuttings, notes for an interview with R. G. Menzies (8 July 1940), and a draft letter to the Minister of External Affairs on salaries, allowances, and leave for the Mission staff. The rest of the papers (Items 539-652) consist of correspondence dating from January-December 1941. There are letters and cables from F. Stewart, H. V. Evatt and W. R. Hodgson, especially concerning Latham's departure from Japan and his illness and operation in Singapore. There are cables from Tokyo to Singapore concerning the Australian Mission and letters of sympathy. Finally, there are memoranda by Latham on the invasion of Australia (15 August 1941), the need for a co-operative arrangement for the defence of South East Asia (5 November 1941) and the military position in the Malay States (16 December 1941).

Comprises Files 1-9 (Items 1-652).

Immediate source of acquisition:

The bulk of the collection was presented to the National Library by Sir John Latham in December 1963, a few months before his death. In November 1974 the Library purchased some further papers from a secondhand book dealer. They comprised family letters and photographs, some diaries and papers relating to the High Court. These papers have been amalgamated into the original collection.

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