With reference to your letter of 24th October, 1938 [1], in regard
to certain public statements made by my colleague, the Minister
for External Affairs [2] on the Mandated Territory of New Guinea,
I would invite your attention to the statement made by Sir George
Pearce in the Senate on 13th March, 1936 [3], copy of which you no
doubt have in your possession.

I would like to say that this statement had the careful
consideration and endorsement of the Commonwealth Government at
the time.

You will recall that on 9th October Mr Hughes made a somewhat
similar statement [4] to the one mentioned by you, and on 14th
October, the Acting Prime Minister [5] in answer to a question in
Parliament said-'The principle underlying the statement by the
Minister for External Affairs is in accord with the views and
policy of the Government in connection with the mandate held by
Australia'.

I assume that this is the main point on which you desire my
comment, and that you do not require my views on the general
statements made by Mr Hughes.

J. A. LYONS