Japanese Consul-General [1] has informed us of intention of South
Seas Trading Company to send party of commercial travellers to
visit Papua, New Guinea and various Southern Pacific Islands
including New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, New Hebrides and Solomon
Islands, between December and March. Object of visit stated to be
promotion of trade.

We propose to reply that present time is not opportune owing to
difficult commercial conditions in South Pacific for the
inauguration of new trading features [sic] and that it is the
policy of the Commonwealth Government to discourage the purchase
of anything but most essential goods and to limit the purchase of
commodities to the sterling area as far as is reasonably possible.

Consequently we would wish this visit so far as it affects
Australian territories to be postponed.

If you agree with this proposal it is suggested you advise the
High Commissioner for the Western Pacific [2] to take similar
action or alternatively advise us to reply on behalf of all the
territories mentioned, As radio reports from Japan indicate that
these missions are on the point of departure an immediate reply to
the Japanese Government is essential.

You might consider it advisable to inform the United States
Government of the proposal and of our attitude.