INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

The Minister for External Affairs [1] read the text of cables
which had been received since the Cabinet adjourned the previous
day.

Following on the information contained in the cable from the
External Affairs Officer in London [2], the matter of
communicating the view of the Australian Government that
everything possible should be done immediately to arrive at an
understanding with Japan was again referred to. The Minister for
External Affairs said that no communication had been made to the
British Government on this aspect since the previous day's
decision, but that he would mention the matter to the Prime
Minister [3], particularly in regard to the advisability of
despatching a cablegram to the High Commissioner [4] at least,
urging action upon these lines.

The text of the reply from the German Chancellor to the British
Note [5] was not yet available to Cabinet.