I have received a note from the American Legation at Canberra
informing me that preparations have been made for the signing on
9th November of the Relief and Rehabilitation Agreement, and for
the calling of the Council which the agreement brings into being.

[1]

You have stated publicly that the Australian Government welcomes
the proposal and will do its share to assist in supplying relief I
have examined the draft agreement and consider that it offers a
workable basis for inaugurating a relief and rehabilitation
administration and that acceptance will not prejudice any
Australian interests. [2]

By signature we will be committed to 'contribute to the support of
the Administration', but the amount and character of our
contributions will be determined from time to time by our own
appropriate constitutional bodies. We will also incur a
responsibility for meeting our share of the administrative
expenses of the Administration.

We will be represented on the Central Council, which is the
policymaking body, and there is opportunity, if we desire, to be
represented on various committees.

I therefore propose to inform the United States Government that we
will sign the agreement and will be represented at the first
meeting of the Council opening on 10th November at Atlantic City.

While accepting the text of the agreement, it is important that we
should closely watch our interests at the first meeting of the
Council which will deal with many matters of detail. This meeting
will last about a month, and will draft the rules and regulations
under which the Administration will work, as well as consider
various questions of policy, finance and supplies.

I propose that the Australian Minister at Washington should sign
the agreement on our behalf and also represent us on the Council.

It will be necessary for him to be assisted at the first meeting
of the Council by three or four technical officers to serve on the
committees, and I am now discussing the formation of the
delegation with the Minister for Post-War Reconstruction, Mr.

Chifley, and with Sir Owen Dixon.

I should be glad to have your concurrence in my proposal to
authorise the signing of the agreement and to send a delegation to
the Council. [3] I am writing in similar terms to the Minister for
Post-War Reconstruction.

H. V. EVATT