I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
June 22nd [1], with further reference to the export of iron ore
from Australia.

In connection with this matter, I understand, from a statement
which you are reported to have made in the House of
Representatives on May 19th last [2], in replying to a question,
that it is the intention of the Commonwealth Government to proceed
with a complete detailed survey of Australia's iron ore resources,
and that, should this survey result in the appearance of some
reassuring features, the Government will be prepared to reconsider
its decision to impose an embargo on the export of iron ore from
Australia.

Before communicating to the Japanese Government the contents of
your letter under acknowledgment, I shall be obliged if you will
be good enough to inform me whether the above-mentioned report
correctly represents the policy of your Government with regard to
this matter, and, if so, the approximate period of time that the
carrying out of the survey in question will occupy.

TORAO WAKAMATSU