Your telegram No. 17 of 20th January. Draft Trusteeship Agreement
for Japanese Mandated Islands.

1. As regards your paragraphs 1 and 2 you will see from paragraph
2B (i) and(2) of my telegram D. No.19-
(a) That we share your view that the present is the wrong time for
United States to press their proposals or to put them formally to
the Security Council, and-
(b) That we propose to make this clear to the United States and to
indicate that we regard draft merely as 'Declaration of
intention', which cannot take effect in advance of Peace Treaty
and that we should like to discuss textual points with them.

2. As regards your paragraphs 3 and 4, text of United States draft
was communicated to all members of the Security Council, New
Zealand, Philippines, early in November and there was consultation
at New York between all British Commonwealth representatives as to
attitude to be adopted towards proposals. It is not question,
therefore, of matter having been raised by United States
Government with United Kingdom Government alone or of our wishing
to communicate Commonwealth Government's views as such to the
United States. As will be seen from our telegram D. No.19, we were
anxious to have your general views before making our own comments
and to learn whether you contemplated any approach to United
States (particularly in view of what was said in your telegram
No.408 [1]). We are, of course, at one with you as to the part
which Australia must play in the Japanese settlement and have been
very glad to read your telegram No. 18 [2] as to United States
attitude on this issue.