I have to-day sent the following message to the Secretary of State
for Dominion Affairs and would be most grateful for the views of
your Government on the question of American claims for British
island possessions in the Pacific. As I leave to-morrow for the
United Kingdom, I would be grateful if your reply could be sent to
me either at Washington up to 28th December and thereafter to
London.

Begins:

420. TOP SECRET & PERSONAL from the Prime Minister. Your D.2214
[1], 2215 [2] and 2230. [3] I am very much perturbed at the United
States attitude towards the British possessions they desire to
obtain, and consider that the expression of the views of the New
Zealand Government should be the subject of discussions when I
reach London.

The whole question is a most serious one, and, in my view, islands
under the sovereignty of the British Commonwealth anywhere should
not be given up lightly. So far as territories in the Pacific are
concerned, it is essential that New Zealand should take the
fullest part in any discussions which may be held. This view is, I
am sure, shared equally by the Australian Government.

This particular matter was the subject of an agreement between
Australia and New Zealand at Canberra in 1944, and before
expressing any viewpoint on behalf of New Zealand, I am bound to
ascertain the views of the Australian Government. Clearly, the
matter is too important to be settled in a precipitate manner and
in anticipation of the Organisation of the United Nations.

I trust that meanwhile no commitment of any sort will be entered
into by any member of the British Commonwealth.

Ends.