1. A.B.C. tonight broadcast a statement from Canberra that no
answer had been received to the Australian request for
postponement of the Conference in Washington on the Japanese
settlement on the grounds that the Minister for External Affairs
could not attend and further that if he could not another Minister
would attend.

2. This broadcast is a diplomatic blunder of the first order and
is likely to have the precise effect we are trying to prevent,
i.e. an unrepresentative Conference at which Australia might be
completely outmanoeuvred.

3. Please report facts and action.