Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

(Due to arrive Melbourne 28.3.25)

My dear P.M.,

Just a short note to you as to my plans. I think it would be a
distinct help to me in the work here if I were to take advantage
of invitations that I have to spend a few days each with the
Legation at Vienna, and the British Diplomatic Mission at Moscow.
Leeper [1] is at Vienna and has asked me to stay with him, and I
have a similar invitation to go to Hodgson, the Charge d'Affaires
at Moscow.

Spending even a few days in a country under conditions such as I
would be under, meeting and talking to the people concerned, makes
the subsequent reading of despatches much easier and more
intelligent.

I found this after even the few days I had with the Embassy in
Paris. One goes well primed with all that they have been writing,
and is able to 'fix' the high points of the story by relevant
conversation with the Embassy people, and (hardly less useful)
with the foreign correspondents of the British press.
If you agreed, I would make a three weeks' trip of it, visiting
Paris, Coblenz, Vienna, Moscow, and Berlin on return.
Would you be good enough to cable me on receipt of this letter-
'Reference your letter of 24th February, approved'-or not, as you
decide. [2]

There would, of course, be a gap in my communications to you of
two or three weeks, but as the near future seems to be without its
crisis, this might not be of much importance. I could always
return to London in 48 hours in case of your wanting me here
urgently.

I am, Yours very truly,
R. G. CASEY