With His Majesty's [1] approval proposal for the establishment of
a Separate Legation of the Commonwealth of Australia at Washington
has now been submitted informally by His Majesty's Ambassador [2]
to the United States Government. The United States Secretary of
State [3] has replied that he is delighted to learn of the
proposal, which is most welcome to that Government, and that there
is no objection to the Legation being opened under the direction
of a charge d'affaires pending the appointment of a Minister some
two or three months hence. The United States Government will
promptly prepare to establish a United States Legation at
Canberra, but will probably not officially open it until an
American Minister has been duly appointed and confirmed by the
Senate. The United States Secretary of State hoped that the
arrival of a United States Minister in Australia would in general
synchronize with the arrival of an Australian Minister in the
United States. His Majesty's Ambassador is now addressing a formal
note to the United States Government on this subject, and a copy
of the correspondence will be forwarded direct to you in due
course.

The State Department leaves to His Majesty's Government in the
Commonwealth of Australia the decision as to when to announce the
intention to establish an Australian Legation in Washington but
they would like to have advance notice on this matter so as to
make announcements simultaneously in Canberra and Washington. No
doubt you will communicate direct with His Majesty's Ambassador at
Washington in regard to the date and terms of the announcement.

It would be in accordance with recognised practice that the charge
d'affaires should be accredited to the United States Government by
a letter addressed to the United States Secretary of State by the
appropriate Minister of the Commonwealth Government. The name of
the individual to be selected for appointment would, however, be
first submitted informally for agreement of the United States
Government.

At a subsequent stage when His Majesty's Government in the
Commonwealth of Australia have decided upon the name of the
Minister to be appointed, the appropriate procedure would be that
the name should first be submitted to His Majesty for approval,
before steps are taken to secure the agreement of the United
States Government.