Please convey immediately following to Prime Minister of New
Zealand-
Begins-
1. We greatly regret the delay in finalising plans for talks with
you and your Ministers. Our own plans have been affected by
proposed absence of Prime Minister in Western Australia during
fortnight of the present month and the absence of other Ministers,
during present month, from Canberra.

2. We now suggest the following arrangements-
(a) Talks on civil aviation only to take place next week at
Wellington preparatory to Ottawa and Washington discussions. For
that purpose Mr. Drakeford, Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr.

McVey, Director-General of Civil Aviation, Colonel Hodgson,
Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, and Mr. Gullick,
Private Secretary, will leave Sydney by air on Monday next.

(b) On the 28th of the month, Mr. Forde, Deputy Prime Minister and
Dr. Evatt, Minister for External Affairs, with staff will leave
Sydney by air for general talks in fulfilment of the Australian
New Zealand Agreement. [1]

We hope that these proposals will be satisfactory.

Ends.

2. Please do not give any publicity at present.

3. If proposals are satisfactory please arrange for air transport
immediately after arrival from Auckland to Wellington and
accommodation for party mentioned in 2(a).