b'125693Joseph Cook was appointed to the Privy Council on 16 July 1914. The Privy Council of the United Kingdom is a formal body of advisers to the King or Queen. Its membership mainly comprises senior politicians who are current or former members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords. This lot comprises of two documents: A sealed confirmation (dated London, 1918) and signed by the Clerk of the Privy Council, Sir Almeric FitzRoy, confirming Cooks appointment to the Council on 16th July, 1914; the second being Cooks Oath of a Privy Counsellor which he recited on first attending a meeting in person. (2 items).$300500 694SIR JOSEPH COOKS DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTas AUSTRALIAN MINISTER for the NAVY, 1918-19,This very important diplomatic passport was the document carried by Cook, while participating in the Imperial War Conference in London in 1918 and in the negotiations that became known as The Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Cook, and Prime Minister Billy Hughes, were the only Australian signatories to this significant document, which reshaped the post-war map of the world, the treatment of Germany and its allies and the inter-war alliances amongst the victors.Signed by Joseph Cook, beneath his photograph, the many endorsements, handstamps, dates and manuscript entries record the many times Cook travelled to France for working sessions and signing ceremonies.A most remarkable survivor of Cooks significant role in international politics.PROVENANCEThe Cook family, by descent.Cook had been prime minister for the first six weeks of Australias involvement in World War I. On 30 July 1914, he was informed via telegram that the British government was considering a declaration of war and advised that Australia should take appropriate defence 694 precautions. He told an election meeting at Horsham, Victoria, the following day to remember that when the Empire is at war, so is Australia at war. At the suggestion of Governor-General Ronald Munro Ferguson, Cook called an emergency cabinet meeting for 3 August. It was attended by only four members of his ministry, as the others were out campaigning and unable to travel to Melbourne in time. The government decided to offer an expeditionary force of 20,000 menof any suggested composition to any destination desired [.] at complete disposal of the Home Government; cost of despatch and maintenance would be borne by this Governmentand to give the British Admiralty control of the Royal Australian Navy when desired. Australias offer was made 40 hours before the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, and it has been suggested that it may have intensified the pressure on the British government to enter the war, along with similar offers made by Canada and New Zealand. The United Kingdom formally accepted 692 Australias offer on 6 August, and Cook subsequently authorised CHAPLIN COURT TREATT (18881954) the creation of the Australian Imperial Force and the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force; the latter captured and Untitled, then occupied German New Guinea within a few months. Writing watercolour, in 1962, Malcolm Henry Ellis described him as the activator and signed and dated 1910 lower right, originator of Australias war effort.34 x 23cm. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 23 June 1919 with Cook PROVENANCE and Hughes signing on behalf of Australia. Cook had some private The Cook family, by descent. misgivings about the final document. Although he believed Major Chaplin Court Treatt, a Royal Flying Corps officer hadGermany needed to be punished, he thought some elements been tasked with surveying and constructing airfields for theof the Treaty were too vindictive. He was strongly in favour of southern portion of the Trans-African air route. The Court Treattthe creation of the League of Nations, and David Lloyd George considered him to be the most fervent supporter of the League Expedition of 1924-26 was the first successful attempt to drivein the entire British delegation. Lloyd George considered him a a motor car from Cape Town to Cairo. The party consisted ofman of calm and balanced judgment. Cook and Hughes arrived Stella Court Treatt, Chaplin Court Treat, Thomas A. Glover, aback in Australia on 24 August 1919, after an absence of nearly cinematographer, Fred C. Law, special correspondent for the16 months. They travelled from Fremantle to Melbourne via the London Daily Express, Stellas brother Errol, Julius Mapata, theTrans-Australian Railway, and Cook particularly enjoyed their stop expeditions guide and translator, and Captain F.C. Blunt and Mr.at the small settlement of Cook, South Australia, which had been McEleavey, representatives of the Crossley Motor company. named in his honour a few years earlier.$400600$5,00010,000'