Note CANBERRA, 19 December 1946

The Embassy of the United States of America at Canberra presents
its compliments to the Department of External Affairs and has the
honor to refer to previous conversations in connection with the
use of funds for cultural purposes arising from the Australian -
United States Lend Lease Agreement of June 7, 1946. [1] The
following information has just been received from Washington. [2]

The possible use of the above funds has been informally discussed
by the Department of State with the Australian Ambassador, laying
stress on the tentative and exploratory nature of the
conversations until an executive agreement is drafted, but formal
action has been withheld, pending the settlement (a) of certain
legal questions and (b) of the basic draft pattern of such an
agreement that would be satisfactory to numerous interested
divisions of the Department.

The Department's informal discussions have had to do with American
students to study in Australia; an American professor for research
in Australia; endowment of an American Chair at Canberra; a grant
to the Roosevelt Wing [3]; American concerts and exhibits, and
payment of ship fares of Australian students going to the United
States.

Immediately that more information is received on this subject it
will be communicated by the Embassy to the Department of External
Affairs.