Assembly 220. Trusteeship.

1. Have just returned from meeting of sub-committee at which
Australian draft agreement [1] was given a first reading. We are
now preparing a telegram [reporting] [2] suggestions and
criticisms made and will follow this by an appraisal of the
situation generally as it appears to us.

2. Dulles sought me out yesterday. His own personal preference was
something short and simple, rather along the lines of our draft.

Partly owing to strong views of his own delegation and State
Department, however, and partly owing to fuller contents of other
drafts he had come to the conclusion that we would not be able to
[maintain] it without alteration. Another factor was that the
United States had included clauses along the general lines of the
New Zealand draft in its own proposals for Japanese island
agreement. [3] He expressed strong hope that during the second
stage of consideration of Australian draft the Government would
indicate willingness to accept some modifications and would not
[maintain] a strong attitude [of] take it or leave it.

3. I asked Dulles as a personal matter to sketch for your
consideration the points at which he thought modifications were
called for.

4. During today's meeting Dulles gave me the following note for
your consideration and sends it with his personal regards and
regrets your absence. Text begins-

'The United States delegation feels that it would be desirable if
the Australian draft agreement for New Guinea were to include all
or most of the articles which are now contained in the New Zealand
draft for Western Samoa.

We take this position for three reasons-
(1) That the broad principles of the charter should be implemented
in some detail in the draft agreements-
(2) That since a number of these welfare provisions are already
being exercised in New Guinea, the Australian Government should
get credit for them-and
(3) That in spite of the backwardness of the inhabitants of New
Guinea, it is desirable to have certain provisions which a
population can grow into.

We do not, however, attach equal importance to all the additional
articles which were proposed to the Australian Government and
which are now included in the New Zealand draft for Western Samoa,
but I personally attach particular importance to the following
articles in the New Zealand draft-Article 5 on Political
Development, Article 8 Regarding Land Laws, Article 9 on Freedom
of Conscience and Religion, Article 11 on Education, Article 12 on
the Four Freedoms.'

5. During today's meeting I gave reasons for every omission and
inclusion to which attention was drawn but naturally at this stage
made no suggestion of Government's willingness to consider
amendment. Formal proposals for amendment are to be lodged by 7
tomorrow evening.