Would you please convey the following personal message from the
Prime Minister to the President through the State Department. As
the Prime Minister will be leaving Australia on 14th April he
would appreciate a reply from the President as early as
convenient, in order that all necessary arrangements may be put in
train-(Begins)

My Dear Mr. President, I shall be visiting London next month for
consultations with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and
other British Commonwealth Prime Ministers. The discussions in
London commence on Tuesday 23rd April and I shall remain there
until Monday 6th May when I intend to leave on the return journey.

2. I would consider it a great pleasure and honour to meet you and
have a general exchange of views on matters of mutual interest to
our two countries. If this is possible and convenient to you I
would return from the United Kingdom through the United States.

Under the tentative itinerary planned for my visit, I would expect
to arrive in the United States from London about 7th May, and
would like to leave from the West Coast on 10th May. In addition
to yourself I would like to meet the Secretary of State if a
meeting with him is convenient at the time of my visit.

3. I am also desirous of visiting General MacArthur in Tokyo and
inspecting the British Commonwealth occupation force in Japan on
my way home, and propose to fly from the United States of America
to Japan.

4. If a visit to Washington on my return journey on the dates
proposed is convenient to you, I should be grateful if you would
let me know whether suitable air transport arrangements for my
party, which will probably comprise six persons, can be provided
by the United States authorities for the journey across the United
States and to Japan. The exact composition of the party will be
notified later. [1] With kindest personal regards,

J. B. CHIFLEY

Ends