Your 54. [1]

1. We have regarded your previous telegrams as refusal by Dutch to
grant visas to Australian officials. As we have already indicated,
we regard it as most serious and we have therefore instructed you
and Ballard to refer requests for visas for officials to Canberra.

That instruction holds.

We would be quite prepared to send officials in the least
ostentatious way and, if necessary, few at a time. It was made
quite clear to Charge here and by you to Dutch that we desire the
utmost secrecy. But refusal has resulted in delay of several days
and the possibility that, in spite of all precautions we have
taken, there may be leakages from Batavia or elsewhere. You must
remember that we have had to book passages and make other
necessary arrangements associated with the departure of officials.

3. We are now being pressed both by Republican Ministers and
agents in Australia to assist in promoting trade. Unless we can
make arrangements immediately with Dutch and Indonesian officials
for the restoration of normal trade, it will be difficult to
resist the pressure of these agents whom we and the Dutch would
not wish encouraged.

4. We are most disturbed at the way in which visas for officials
sought by External Affairs have been refused, and in using this
term we are stating the actual position. We would be willing to
arrange movement in way suggested, if immediate instruction is
given to Charge at Canberra to issue any visas which the
Department of External Affairs may seek for Australian officials.

5. Pending receipt of general instruction to Charge at Canberra
please obtain approval for visas for Messrs. W. D. Forsyth, C. J.

Carne, E. B. Richardson and R. A. Hetherington, all Australian
Government officials.

6. Your telegram 55 [2] just received. We desire avoid any
embarrassment and any publicity as already stated. Please urge
strongly in interests Dutch-Australian relations action along
lines of paragraphs 4 and 5 above. If this is done, we on our part
will co-operate fully and in particular endeavour to avoid
embarrassment in relation to question of representation as
suggested in paragraph 4 of your 50. [3]