Your telegram 5th February. [1] Full consideration has been given
to the views of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. On
balance, however, the Government of the Commonwealth believes the
appointment of Minister to both Japan and to China at the present
time is desirable. We are not satisfied that if directly
represented we could not contribute a useful point of view.

Moreover, the present state of tension may not ease for a few
years and the increasing significance of the Far East to Australia
appears to outweigh other considerations. Please therefore proceed
as indicated in my telegram of 25th January [2] with respect to
appointment of Minister both to Japan and China. The appointment
to Japan will probably take precedence by a few months.

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