Bruce from Evatt.

I am sure you will appreciate a frank review of position discussed
in recent cables relating to the Australian - New Zealand thesis
that the doctrine of trusteeship should, in principle, be
applicable to colonial territories. Official replies have been
forwarded to Dominions Office from both New Zealand and Australia.

[1] These state the general case shortly and in my view
convincingly. All the facts show that no different view was ever
accepted by the Australian Government. We are necessarily bound by
the principles of the Australia - New Zealand Agreement of January
last. [2] That Agreement covers the present matter.

There cannot be any unilateral departure by us from the objectives
of the Agreement with New Zealand. Indeed that Agreement is one of
the pivots of our external policy. At the same time we fully
realise that the statement of objectives in the Australia - New
Zealand Agreement does not connote an impossibilist attitude.

Therefore if suitable regional authorities could be devised within
the framework of the World Security Organisation, it might be
possible to achieve a substantial portion of our goal so long as
the regional organisation has specific duties and functions to
perform for the benefit of the native peoples. I mention this to
reinforce the point made in the official telegram that even now
the door should not be closed upon the possibility of some form of
agreement within the British Commonwealth. I think you should
pursue this line, emphasising the friendly enough replies of
Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps you might be able to ascertain
the originators of the cable to us. [3] It is difficult to believe
that Attlee and the Labour leaders would ever approve of it.

With regard to your previous cable on the Polish question [4], it
was received while Forde and I were in New Zealand. Agreeing
generally with your emphasis on the failure to consult us,
personal action by you is better than another telegram.

Personally, I accept your point of view that if the United Kingdom
makes decisions of such a character without real consultation
beforehand, great embarrassment and worse may result. Poland is
only one instance. You will have seen the minutes of the
Wellington discussions. [5] The feeling there was that there has
been a good deal of side-tracking in relation to the consultation
to which we should be entitled. No one has stuck more consistently
to France than Australia. Yet if France attains representation on
the European Commission there is a strong case surely for Dominion
representation. Nevertheless, as you will observe from the
Wellington conversations, the more important area for us is the
Pacific not Europe. At all costs we must avoid a repetition of the
Cairo Conference when vital political decisions affecting the
Pacific were announced to the world before we even knew of them.

Perhaps you and I do not see eye to eye on all these points but
your general attitude shows that you will do your utmost to ensure
that Australia and New Zealand are accorded full right of
consultation after a careful consideration of their views. It is
inevitable that these views will at times conflict with the pre-
conceived views of the British Conservative Party which, no doubt,
are fully reflected at the Colonial Office. Sooner or later, no
doubt, there will be a British Commonwealth Conference at which
binding decisions can be made. Until then, a maximum degree of
prior consultation should be obtained. But, as you know from
experience, you will have to struggle to obtain this end.

You will be distressed to hear that the Prime Minister's long rest
in Western Australia did not result in restoration to health and
that the heart trouble which developed greatly concerns his
advisers. With complete rest he may be able to resume in January.

In the meantime important events are taking place and I would
always appreciate unofficial and personal messages by yourself. We
want things to go smoothly but we must not be asked to surrender
principles to which we are committed. Still less should we be
chided for our views by the Colonial Office.

Both the U.N.R.R.A. Bill and the Food and Agriculture Bill have
passed the House of Representatives and should become law very
shortly.

Best wishes.

EVATT