The point of view of the American delegates [1] as disclosed is
very important for us and my anticipations as to their views on
'Government of dependencies' were fully confirmed. I think that
80% of the American delegates are in favour of the immediate
independence of Malaya, India and Burma, with of course the
Philippines. Nothing else would they say be consistent with the
Atlantic Charter. Owen Lattimore [2] spoke of 'sand bagging
independence with so-called self government'. I have the greatest
respect for the American schools of International Affairs but
practically none have ever handled anything and they are blinded
by science with all the ineptitude which comes of lack of
experience. What they do not understand is that these Colonial
Empires are part of the structure of the Pacific Region on which
any security system must depend and if they are dissolved the
succession communities will be immature and incapable of upholding
any security system. I pointed this out in my address to the
University of Virginia on my way home. I am to speak at Columbia
early in February and will elaborate it. I do not suggest that
these Empires should remain commercial Empires, but that they
adopt a policy of economic development and raising of living
standards and accountability to an International Authority. A
Dutch delegate said that the Netherlands would agree to a system
of accountability. I found a lot of support for the Australian and
New Zealand Agreement among Canadians, French and others.