Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

117 Mr J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister, to Mr M. MacDonald, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

Draft Cablegram [111] [1] n.d. [30 December 1937]

His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia is of the opinion that His Excellency the Govem6r-General [2] on his approaching visit to England leaving Australia in March might with great advantage pay an official visit to the Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies. Such a visit would in our opinion be a gesture of goodwill and do much' to, cement the Present cordial relations between the British Commonwealth and the Netherlands.

[3] His Excellency heartily agrees with the proposal and is anxious to further the objective mentioned.

An informal approach to this end has been made to the Governor- General of the Netherlands Indies through the Consul-General in Australia [4], and an intimation has been received in the form of an invitation that the proposed visit would be cordially welcomed.

In these circumstances, His Excellency the Governor-General would be pleased if you would arrange for his acceptance of this kind invitation to be conveyed to the Netherlands Government through the appropriate channel.

1 This cablegram is almost certainly a draft of No. 111 from the Prime Minister to the U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs of 30 December 1937, which is referred to in Hodgson to Hood, cablegram 5 of20 January 1938 (AA : A981, NEI 52). A handwritten note at the bottom of the draft cablegram reads: 'Gov.-Gen.

requests that copy of this telegram be forwarded to Private Secretary to the King to whom His Excellency is communicating immediately by telegrarn.' 2 Lord Gowrie.

3 The suggestion for a goodwill visit was made by R. G. Menzies to Cabinet some time before 10 December 1937. See Menzies's letter to Lyons, 23 December 1937 and Elink Schuurman's letter to W. M.

Hughes, 23 December 1937 (both on file AA : A981, NEI 52).

4 T.Elink Schuurman.

[AA: A981, NEI 52]

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