THE UNITED STATES

The first part of this memorandum dealt with U.S.-U.K. relations,
and the second part with U.S.-Australian relations. The extract
printed here is the second section of the second part; the first
section dealt with trade relations between the U.S. and Australia.

ATTACHMENT or AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS TO WASHINGTON

In June 1936 it was suggested that the appointment of an External
Affairs Officer to the British Embassy at Washington would be an
opportune step, both as a gesture of friendship to the United
States Government to offset any misunderstanding which might have
resulted from the Commonwealth's Trade diversion policy, and also
as providing a direct means of approach to the United States
Government. Such an attachment had been advocated by Mr Bruce in
1932. [1] The Foreign Office also intimated that they would
welcome such a proposal. Representatives in Australia of foreign
countries and especially those of the United States, have often
said that their officials feel the lack of an Australian officer
with whom they could discuss matters of common interest and obtain
the Commonwealth point of view.

The question of the appointment of an Australian liaison officer
to the British Embassy at Washington was submitted to Cabinet on
10th July, 1936, which approved of the principle of such an
appointment. The Foreign Office was thereupon consulted as to the
details of the appointment. A reply was received on 17th October
expressing the pleasure of the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs at the proposal, which was described as 'a practical
contribution to the cause of intra-Imperial co-operation'. He also
suggested that the status of 'Counsellor' would be the most
suitable. This suggestion was agreed to by Cabinet on 7th
December, 1936, and it was decided to proceed with the appointment
of an officer to be known as the 'Australian Counsellor'. The
salary of the post was fixed at 636-708, to be supplemented by an
allowance at the rate of 1,000 per annum if unmarried, and of
1,200 per annum if married.

On 6th January, 1937, the Foreign Office was asked to submit to
His Majesty the King the Commonwealth Government's proposal for
the appointment of an Australian Counsellor and on 30th January
the Foreign Office advised the High Commissioner that His Majesty
was glad to approve of the proposal that a member of the
Australian Department of External Affairs should be attached to
His Majesty's Embassy at Washington. It was decided to appoint
Major F. K. Officer, O.B.E., M.C., LL.B., to this post, and the
appointment was announced in the morning press on 10th February,
1937.

Considerable interest has been displayed both in the Australian
and American press, and as early as 30th November 1936, the press
reported that great interest had been aroused in Washington by the
news that an Australian representative was to be appointed there.
On 17th December, the press again referred to what was still only
a rumour and alleged that Washington viewed the scheme very
favourably and that it was thought likely that Mr Pierrepont
Moffat, at present Consul-General for the United States in Sydney,
should be made Consul-General in Canberra, and that the post might
later be raised to that of Minister. Following the announcement on
10th February, a great deal of favourable comment was made in the
Australian press, including a number of leading articles in the
principal metropolitan dailies.

It is felt that the appointment of officers to centres of
particular importance to Australia will give continuity to the
policy of maintaining the closest and most friendly relations with
all countries in the Pacific zone. It will also facilitate the
provision by the Commonwealth Government of trained and
experienced officers in international affairs and lay the
foundation for any future representation of a higher status which
the Government of the day may consider necessary. [2]

1 A report, written by S. M. Bruce in 1932, has not been found,
but its contents were referred to in a Cabinet submission from the
External Affairs Department dated 8 July 1936 (AA: A981, EA Dept
152) and in a Cabinet submission from the Prime Minister's
Department on the Commonwealth Office in New York (PM&C: A2694, 10
December 1937). It appears from these submissions that Bruce
advocated that a member of the External Affairs Department be
attached to the staff of the British Embassy in Washington as a
liaison officer. In 1932 Bruce was Minister resident in London; in
1933 he became High Commissioner in London.

2 Memorandum prepared in Department of External Affairs.

[AA : A981, IMPERIAL RELATIONS 145A]