Please read together following telegrams from us 30th March:-Dried
Fruits, Canned Fruits, and question of Australian representation
on Ministry of Economic Warfare [1]; 6th April:-Policy of Ministry
of Shipping. [2] And two today:-Cold Storage for butter [3], and
outstanding wool questions. [4]

United Kingdom Government's policy in regard to Economic Warfare
appears to be working more and more to Australia's detriment. We
cannot view the position with equanimity, but are reluctantly
forced to the conclusion that we must either now take a strong
stand or find our economic interests increasingly ignored. To
repeat a few examples:-

We are expected to bear the full cost of the special dried fruits
agreement with Turkey. We are told that shipping difficulties
preclude the usual purchase of canned fruits-at the same time
vacant space in berth tonnage is being filled with unusual
commodities such as wheat and flour; moreover, we suspect that
United Kingdom has imported large quantities preserved fruits from
foreign countries. We are not fully aware of the United Kingdom
shipping position, but are expected to organize shipping at this
end in a way which will exclude many non-priority commodities. The
preference to consumption of margarine and the cold storage glut
of butter threatens our dairying industry. There has been a
strange failure to reply in any way to our enquiry regarding wool
made more than six weeks ago.

We read in press that Allies are determined to purchase large
quantities of commodities they do not need in order to prevent
them reaching Germany. We have no official advice on such matters,
but we have concurrent advices that some of our regular supplies
are not needed, or are likely to be curtailed.

We wish you to take up this whole question with Secretary of State
for Dominion Affairs [5] earliest possible. It is essential we
have complete elucidation United Kingdom warfare policy. You might
emphasize that we are dissatisfied with inadequately explained
statements that United Kingdom Government cannot do this or that.

The irritation already existing, and daily increasing, can only be
allayed by prompt replies and the frankest explanations. Our long
established economic position cannot be adversely affected with
what appears to us to be inadequate consideration of our
interests, without arousing the strongest antagonism.

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