Your D.364 and D.365. [2]

The Commonwealth Government agrees that the principles laid down
in paragraphs (a) to (j) of telegram D.365 offer a useful basis
for an informal approach to the United States and Soviet Union
regarding the problems connected with the cessation of hostilities
with enemy powers in Europe and we wish to be kept fully informed
of the results of that approach and to have an opportunity of
expressing our views on any variation of the principles that may
be proposed by either America or Russia.

We have noted the proposal in paragraph (j) of 365 for a United
Nations Commission for Europe, and we accept the principle that
Dominion membership of the Commission would mean a Dominion
contribution to the policing of Europe. Our present hope and
intention is that Australia should participate in the Commission's
work, but a final decision must necessarily be reserved until, as
the result of the discussions with other Allied Governments, the
form of the Commission and the police system to be set up in
Europe can be seen more definitely than at present.

We assume from the nature of the principles set out in your
telegram under reference that it is hoped to avoid writing the
terms of peace into the armistice as in 1918, and that such
matters will be subject of separate discussions.

The Commonwealth Government has a strong interest in the future
stability of Europe as an important factor in ensuring world
peace. We also believe that the armistice period in Europe will
impose one of the earliest and severest tests of the capacity of
the United Nations to cooperate for post-war reconstruction, and
in the proposed discussions we would urge that a high value be
placed on the securing and maintaining of Anglo-Russian-American
collaboration. It is also evident, for example, in the list of
activities mentioned in paragraph (k) of D.365, that many of the
practical administrative problems associated with post-war
collaboration of the United Nations will be worked out initially
in Europe. In all these matters, while we recognise the necessity
for the regional handling of detailed administration, we would
urge that whatever is done as regards Europe should be consistent
with the maintenance of peace and the advancement of the human
welfare of all regions of the world.