For some time 1 have had in mind to suggest to my fellow Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth that we should hold a meeting in London next Autumn. It has seemed to me that the world situation is such that it is most important that we should meet together at this time to exchange ideas and thus to get to know how each of us is thinking on the grave problems which confront us. I have particularly in mind the relations between Russia and the rest of the world, the problems of Germany and Japan, the general world economic situation and the implications of Western Union and E.R.P. Though some of us have met during the past two years it has not been possible for all of us to be together at the same time and to have those frank talks on these world problems which are so valuable, indeed so essential, an element in our co-operation.

There are, however, at least three questions of the greatest importance to us all on which full consultation is essential and cannot wait until then. I feel sure that we ought to meet very soon for an exchange of views on developments in relation to Germany, the question of an early Peace Conference on Japan and the implications of Western Union. On these urgent questions the present situation is so complex that we cannot confer adequately by telegram.

I know how difficult it is for Prime Ministers who bear such heavy burdens to be away from their posts even for a short time. But the need for a meeting is now so great that despite the difficulties and the short notice I feel I must urge my colleagues to consider the possibility of our gathering together in London in the latter part of next month (June). I would not expect that this preliminary meeting need last more than a few days. We could discuss when we meet what further meetings could be arranged to deal with subjects which call for fuller consideration. In June our discussions would be concerned primarily with the most urgent problems mentioned in paragraph 2. On economic matters we could have a preliminary talk on how best we can arrange for the fullest consultation and collaboration between ourselves on the world economic situation and the development of Western Union and E.R.P.

At this meeting we should not be concerned to take formal decisions (for that is not our way) nor to discuss specific problems in detail (for this can better be done through the usual channels) but rather to review the world situation and exchange views on these questions of common interest in the light of the most recent information. Informal and personal discussion of this kind would not only be valuable to myself and my colleagues here but would provide me with the only fully satisfactory means of giving my fellow Prime Ministers an adequate picture of the situation as we here see it.

I should be grateful if I might have your views at the earliest possible moment. I very much hope that it will be found possible to adopt my suggestion. We here should of course expect our visitors to be our guests and would naturally be glad to see the official staffs whom Prime Ministers would wish to bring with them. I would suggest, however, that such staffs should be kept small.

We should greatly welcome it if it were possible for your Minister for External Affairs to accompany you in spite of the difficulty which we recognize of your both being away from Canada at the same time. We should hope in any case to see your Minister for External Affairs over here later in the year if, as we think, he may be going to Paris in September for the United Nations Assembly. But I would emphasize that for my part I attach the greatest importance to the meeting being at the Prime Minister level. The absence of even one Prime Minister would, I feel, weaken its value not only in relation to the matters to be discussed but in relation to its effect on world opinion.