Your telegram D.67 and earlier telegrams Lease-Lend Agreement. [1]
Commonwealth Government has been giving close consideration to
this question. [2] We think that an agreement with United States
should be reached as soon as possible and that the difficulties
raised by Article VII should not be allowed to impede early
agreement.

A general relaxation of trade barriers would seem to be possible
if the positive aims of collaboration referred to in Article VII
are achieved, i.e. 'the expansion of production, employment and
the exchange and consumption of goods which are the material
foundation of liberty and welfare of all people'. Australia would
be willing to share in agreed action to achieve these positive
aims. Consequently British countries should be prepared to accept
the general commitments involved in Article VII even if this
involved some modification of existing preference schemes.

Achievement of the objectives would obviously be gradual. In order
to make this clear we suggest that the United States should be
asked to amend Article VII so as to insert the word 'Progressive'
before 'elimination' to read 'and to the progressive elimination
of all forms of discriminatory treatment in international commerce
. . . '. We consider this meaning is already implicit in the
present wording and it need not be pressed if it proves quite
unacceptable to the United States. [3]

Our view in short is:

a. Article VII can provide general basis of post war economic
order so long as it is regarded as an objective to be realised
gradually. b. We are committed to such an objective by Atlantic
Charter and recent multilateral declaration of Washington. c. It
is of supreme importance for British countries to assure U.S.

Government and world that our declarations are intended to be
carried out in spirit as well as the letter. d. We must place
trust in the common sense as well as idealism of those who will
carry out the objectives of the proposed agreement. [4]