Your Despatch D. No. 58 dated 11th April, 1945, forwarding copy of
statement of Civil Affairs Policy of His Majesty's Government in
British Borneo. [1] Paragraph 5 of Statement advised that, in
order to assist the Allied Commander-in-Chief (or the Military
Commander designated by him) to carry out the military
administration of British Borneo in accordance with the policy of
His Majesty's Government, a Chief Civil Affairs Officer, British
Borneo [2], with a nucleus staff of British officers, had been
made available and plans had been made for additions to the staff
as may be required.

2. After arrival in Australia early in 1945 of nucleus No. 50
Civil Affairs Units, the Borneo operation became an Australian
commitment, not a United States commitment as originally intended.

Instructions were issued by the Commander-in-Chief, Allied Land
Forces, with concurrence of War Office, for creation of a British
Borneo Civil Affairs Unit on Australian Order of Battle, to meet
the responsibilities which devolved upon Australian Commander by
reason of his instructions from Theatre Commander. Commonwealth
Government agreed that raising of unit should be proceeded with,
it being estimated that Australia would have to supply up to about
400 personnel of all ranks, all of whom will be required during
the operational phase.

3. While this commitment regarded as an operational requirement of
the Australian Forces is accepted by Commonwealth, attention is
drawn to following aspects:-

(a) Administration of the territories in question after the
suspension of military government is a United Kingdom
responsibility;

(b) Australia has already agreed (as you have no doubt been
advised by the United Kingdom High Commissioner) to permit up to
50 officers serving with Australian units to apply for
appointments to British Civil Affairs administrations in the Far
East;

(c) It is assumed that the staff which would presumably have been
provided from United Kingdom sources or planned for by United
Kingdom authorities (see paragraph 5 of statement attached to
Despatch D. No. 58) had the operation been undertaken by other
than Australian Forces, is in fact available;

(d) The extremely difficult manpower position here, of which you
were advised in my cablegram 113 of 23rd May [3] relating to the
basing of Royal Navy Forces on Australia, must again be
emphasized.

4. In view of the above, Commonwealth Government desires that the
United Kingdom should arrange for the replacement of Australian
personnel in the unit at the earliest possible date. [4]