Your telegrams Circular B.328, confidential, 3rd September,
Optional Clause [1], Circular B.51 of 11th February, 1939, General
ACT. [2] Following are copies of telegrams sent to Secretary-
General, League of Nations [3] on 7th September, 1939.

First begins: 'His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of
Australia has found it necessary to consider the problem in the
existing circumstances of its acceptance of the Optional Clause of
the Statute of the Permanent Court of International justice and in
this connection has perused a letter which is being addressed to
you on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

The considerations mentioned in that letter apply equally to the
position of His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of
Australia and for similar reasons His Majesty's Government in the
Commonwealth of Australia now notifies you that it will not regard
its acceptance of the Optional Clause as covering any disputes
arising out of the events occurring during the present crisis.

Please communicate this notification to the Governments of all
States which have accepted the Optional Clause and to the
Registrar of the Permanent Court of International justice.' Ends.

Second begins. 'His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of
Australia has found it necessary to consider the problem in the
existing circumstances of its accession to the General Act for
Pacific Settlement of International Disputes.

Taking into account the considerations referred to in my telegram
of even date concerning the Optional Clause of the Statute of the
Permanent Court of International Justice which apply with equal
force in the case of the General Act, His Majesty's Government in
the Commonwealth of Australia now notifies you that it will not
regard its accession to the General Act as covering or relating to
any dispute arising out of the events occurring during the present
crisis. Please inform all States parties to the General Act.'
Ends.

Copies of these telegrams have been sent to Canada, South Africa
and New Zealand.

PRIME MINISTER