SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                 REVOCATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A)
                    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  Filed by the Registrant {X}

  Filed by a Party other than the Registrant {_}

  Check the appropriate box:
  {_}  Preliminary Proxy Statement (Revocation of Consent Statement)
  {_}  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
       14a-6(e)(2))
  {_}  Definitive Proxy Statement (Revocation of Consent Statement)
  {X}  Definitive Additional Materials
  {X}  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                      GREAT WESTERN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                   -----------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
                   -----------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

  Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

  {X}  No fee required.

  {_}  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

       (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

       (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

       (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
            pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
            the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ___

       (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transactions: ________________

       (5)  Total fee paid.
  --------
  {_}  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

  {_}  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
       Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
       paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
       number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

       (1)  Amount Previously Paid: __________________________________________

       (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ____________________

       (3)  Filing Party: ____________________________________________________

       (4)  Date Filed: ______________________________________________________


                                 [Advertisement]

     To Great Western Stockholders:
     -----------------------------

     The Building Blocks
     of Ahmanson's Proposal . . . [Three blocks with the following
     text inside:  Ahmanson's Proposal; Imprudent Leverage; Massive
     Share Repurchases]

     In evaluating any merger proposal, consideration must be given to
     whether it stands on a solid financial foundation.  Ahmanson's
     merger proposal relies on massive share repurchases and imprudent
     leverage.  It just doesn't make sense.

     o    Ahmanson has ONE OF THE LOWEST CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE COMMON
          EQUITY RATIOS1 among major savings and loan holding
          companies.  This ratio is widely recognized as one of the
          most important indicators of the strength of a financial
          institution.

     o    If combined with Great Western, based on Ahmanson's own
          projections, we calculate that Ahmanson's consolidated
          tangible common equity ratio at December 31, 1997 would be
          only 3.46% -- STILL ONE OF THE LOWEST CAPITALIZED MAJOR
          SAVINGS AND LOAN HOLDING COMPANIES IN THE U.S.2

     o    Ahmanson is planning over $3.2 billion in share repurchases
          and common stock dividends from October 1, 1997 through
          December 31, 1999 -- representing NEARLY 90% OF AHMANSON'S
          PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY at September
          30, 1997.3

     o    Ahmanson's planned share repurchase and common stock
          dividends from October 1, 1997 through December 31, 1999
          aggregate nearly 180% of Ahmanson's pro forma cumulative net
          income to common stock during the same period.3

     o    If Ahmanson were to maintain a consolidated tangible common
          equity ratio in line with the rest of the industry, it would
          have to substantially reduce its planned share repurchases. 
          To achieve a consolidated tangible common equity ratio
          comparable to Washington Mutual's, we calculate that
          Ahmanson would be FORCED TO REDUCE ITS PLANNED $2.8 BILLION
          STOCK BUYBACK BY MORE THAN 78% during the period from
          October 1, 1997 through December 31, 1999.  If Ahmanson's
          planned stock repurchases were decreased by 78% during that
          period, Ahmanson would SUFFER EPS DILUTION OF APPROXIMATELY
          5% IN 1999, rather than the 2% accretion it claims.4

     In spite of its inferior proposal, Ahmanson persists in trying to
     solicit your consent.  Great Western's Board of Directors
     unanimously opposes the Ahmanson solicitation and urges you NOT
     to sign the WHITE consent card sent to you by Ahmanson.

     WE URGE YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE BLUE CONSENT REVOCATION
     CARD TODAY.

                       GREAT WESTERN/WASHINGTON MUTUAL --

          SUPERIOR MERGER . . . SUPERIOR PARTNER . . . SUPERIOR VALUE


                              [Great Western Logo]

     April 7, 1997

                                   IMPORTANT
             If you have any questions, please call our solicitor,
                            GEORGESON & COMPANY INC.
                         Call toll free:  800-223-2064.
                     Banks and brokers call:  212-440-9800.

               Great Western Financial Corporation ("Great Western")
     and certain other persons named below may be deemed to be
     participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with
     the merger of Great Western and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
     Washington Mutual, Inc. ("Washington Mutual") pursuant to which
     each outstanding share of Great Western common stock would be
     converted into 0.9 shares of Washington Mutual common stock (the
     "Merger").  The participants in this solicitation may include the
     directors of Great Western (James F. Montgomery, John F. Maher,
     Dr. David Alexander, H. Frederick Christie, Stephen E. Frank,
     John V. Giovenco, Firmin A. Gryp, Enrique Hernandez, Jr., Charles
     D. Miller, Dr. Alberta E. Siegel and Willis B. Wood, Jr.); the
     following executive officers of Great Western:  J. Lance Erikson,
     Carl F. Geuther, Michael M. Pappas, A. William Schenck III, Ray
     W. Sims and Jaynie M. Studenmund; and the following other members
     of management of Great Western:  Stephen F. Adams, Bruce F.
     Antenberg, Barry R. Barkley, Ian D. Campbell, Charles Coleman,
     Allen D. Meadows and John A. Trotter (collectively, the "Great
     Western Participants").  As of the date of this communication,
     James F. Montgomery and John F. Maher beneficially owned 680,488
     shares and 611,762 shares of Great Western common stock,
     respectively (including shares subject to stock options
     exercisable within 60 days).  The remaining Great Western
     Participants do not beneficially own, individually or in the
     aggregate, in excess of 1% of Great Western's equity securities.

               Great Western has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co.
     ("Goldman Sachs") and Merrill Lynch & Co. ("Merrill Lynch") to
     act as its financial advisors in connection with the Merger, as
     well as the merger proposal by H. F. Ahmanson & Company, for
     which they received and may receive substantial fees, as well as
     reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.  In addition,
     Great Western has agreed to indemnify Goldman Sachs and Merrill
     Lynch and certain persons related to them against certain
     liabilities, including certain liabilities under the federal
     securities laws, arising out of their engagement.  Each of
     Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch is an investment banking firm
     that provides a full range of financial services for
     institutional and individual clients.  Neither Goldman Sachs nor
     Merrill Lynch admits that it or any of its directors, officers or
     employees is a "participant" as defined in Schedule 14A
     promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended, in the solicitation, or that Schedule 14A requires the
     disclosure of certain information concerning Goldman Sachs and
     Merrill Lynch.  In connection with Goldman Sachs's role as
     financial advisor to Great Western, Goldman Sachs and the
     following investment banking employees of Goldman Sachs may
     communicate in person, by telephone or otherwise with a limited
     number of institutions, brokers or other persons who are
     stockholders of Great Western:  Joe Wender, John Mahoney, Andy
     Gordon, Todd Owens and Andrea Vittorelli.  In connection with
     Merrill Lynch's role as financial advisor to Great Western,
     Merrill Lynch and the following investment banking employees of
     Merrill Lynch may communicate in person, by telephone or
     otherwise with a limited number of institutions, brokers or other
     persons who are stockholders of Great Western:  Herb Lurie, Louis
     S. Wolfe, Paul Wetzel, Frank V. McMahon, John Esposito, Alex Sun,
     Christopher Del-Moral Niles and Kavita Gupta.  In the normal
     course of their respective businesses Goldman Sachs and Merrill
     Lynch regularly buy and sell securities issued by Great Western
     and its affiliates ("Great Western Securities") and Washington
     Mutual and its affiliates ("Washington Mutual Securities") for
     its own account and for the accounts of its customers, which
     transactions may result from time to time in Goldman Sachs and
     its associates and Merrill Lynch and its associates having a net
     "long" or net "short" position in Great Western Securities,
     Washington Mutual Securities, or option contracts with other
     derivatives in or relating to Great Western Securities or
     Washington Mutual Securities.  As of March 31, 1997, Goldman
     Sachs held positions in Great Western Securities and Washington
     Mutual Securities as principal as follows:  (i) net "long" 18,173
     of Great Western's common shares; (ii) net "long" $1 million of
     Great Western's deposit notes; and (iii) net "long" 1,098 of
     Washington Mutual's common shares.  As of March 31, 1997, Merrill
     Lynch had positions in Great Western Securities and Washington
     Mutual Securities as principal as follows:  (i) net "long" 6,026
     of Great Western's common shares;  (ii) net "long" 150 shares of
     Great Western's 8.30% preferred stock; and (iii) net "long" 1,526
     of Washington Mutual's common shares.

               Other participants in the solicitation include
     Washington Mutual and may include the directors of Washington
     Mutual (Douglas P. Beighle, David Bonderman, Herbert M. Bridge,
     J. Taylor Crandall, Roger H. Eigsti, John W. Ellis, Daniel J.
     Evans, Anne V. Farrell, William P. Gerberding, Kerry K.
     Killinger, Samuel B. McKinney, Michael K. Murphy, Louis H.
     Pepper, William G. Reed, Jr. and James H. Stever); the following
     executive officers of Washington Mutual: Craig S. Davis, Steven
     P. Freimuth, Lee D. Lannoye, William A. Longbrake, Deanna W.
     Oppenheimer, Craig E. Tall and S. Liane Wilson; and the following
     other members of management of Washington Mutual:  Karen
     Christensen, JoAnn DeGrande, William Ehrlich, James B.
     Fitzgerald, Marc Kittner and Douglas G. Wisdorf (collectively,
     the "Washington Mutual Participants").  As of the date of this
     communication, David Bonderman, J. Taylor Crandall and Kerry K.
     Killinger beneficially owned 1,894,141 shares, 6,549,755 shares
     and 1,044,224 shares of Washington Mutual common stock,
     respectively.  The remaining Washington Mutual Participants do
     not beneficially own, individually or in the aggregate, in excess
     of 1% of Washington Mutual's equity securities.  The Washington
     Mutual Participants do not beneficially own, individually or in
     the aggregate, in excess of 1% of Great Western's equity
     securities.

               Washington Mutual has retained Lehman Brothers Inc.
     ("Lehman Brothers") to act as its financial advisor in connection
     with the Merger for which it received and may receive substantial
     fees as well as reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket
     expenses.  In addition, Washington Mutual has agreed to indemnify
     Lehman Brothers and certain persons related to it against certain
     liabilities, including certain liabilities under the federal
     securities laws, arising out of its engagement.  Lehman Brothers
     is an investment banking firm that provides a full range of
     financial services for institutional and individual clients. 
     Lehman Brothers does not admit that it or any of its directors,
     officers or employees is a "participant" as defined in Schedule
     14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended, in the solicitation, or that Schedule 14A requires the
     disclosure of certain information concerning Lehman Brothers.  In
     connection with Lehman Brothers' role as financial advisor to
     Washington Mutual, Lehman Brothers and the following investment
     banking employees of Lehman Brothers may communicate in person,
     by telephone or otherwise with a limited number of institutions,
     brokers or other persons who are stockholders of Washington
     Mutual and Great Western:  Steven B. Wolitzer, Philip R.
     Erlanger, Sanjiv Sobti, David J. Kim, Craig P. Sweeney and Daniel
     A. Trznadel.  In the normal course of its business Lehman
     Brothers regularly buys and sells Washington Mutual Securities
     and Great Western Securities for its own account and for the
     accounts of its customers, which transactions may result from
     time to time in Lehman Brothers and its associates having a net
     "long" or net "short" position in Washington Mutual Securities,
     Great Western Securities or option contracts with other
     derivatives in or relating to Washington Mutual Securities or
     Great Western Securities.  As of March 31, 1997, Lehman Brothers
     had positions in Washington Mutual Securities and Great Western
     Securities as principal as follows:  (i) net "short" 224 of
     Washington Mutual's common shares; (ii) net "long" 27,434 shares
     of Washington Mutual's 9.12% preferred stock; (iii) net "long"
     124,964 shares of Washington Mutual's 7.60% preferred stock; (iv)
     net "long" 12,629 of Great Western's common shares; and (v) net
     "long" 160,000 shares of Great Western's 8.30% preferred stock.

     _____________________________

     1    Ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets
          calculated on a consolidated basis.  As of December 31,
          1996, Ahmanson's consolidated tangible common equity ratio
          ranked as the 92nd-lowest out of 93 publicly traded savings
          and loan holding companies with assets greater than $1
          billion.

     2    Calculated by Great Western, based on the following
          projections as of December 31, 1997, as publicly disclosed
          by Ahmanson:  ((1) common equity ($8,405  million) minus (2)
          intangibles ($5,259 million)) divided by ((3) assets
          ($96,082 million) minus (4) tangibles ($5,259 million)).

     3    Calculated by Great Western, based on data publicly
          disclosed by Ahmanson on March 25, 1997.

     4    Calculated by Great Western, based on data publicly
          disclosed by Ahmanson on March 25, 1997 and assuming:  1) a
          year-end 1999 pro forma consolidated tangible common equity
          ratio of 5.19%, and 2) a pre-tax earnings rate on capital
          retained of 8.00%.