My telegram Hague 1. [1] Both Her Majesty and the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, on whom I called on the A were most cordial.

2. The Minister for Foreign Affairs referred to the question of
Dutch Ships held up in Australia [2] as the one point of friction
between us. I told him that I would be glad to put forward any
proposal he might make but said that, in my opinion it was useless
to discuss any involving return of the ships to the Netherlands
East Indies at present. When Her Majesty referred to the subject
at my audience the Minister for Foreign Affairs said that he
proposed to discuss the subject with me at an early date and Her
Majesty seemed satisfied.

3. The only remaining solution I can think of is the charter of
the ship for a period to Australia. I understand that this was
suggested before but Dutch terms were too high. Could this
suggestion be reopened.

Please advise urgently. [3]