I am directed by the Prime Minister to thank you for your letter
(2/239) of the 4th August, concerning negotiations affecting the
future constitutional position of Ceylon, and to assure you that
the Australian Government has carefully considered in this
connection the observations made by the United Kingdom Government.

The Australian Government notes that, in the view of the United
Kingdom Government, the draft agreement upon external affairs is
'so worded as to involve no commitment, express or implied, on the
part of members of the British Commonwealth other than the United
Kingdom as to their relations with Ceylon in the field of external
affairs.'
Having regard to the circumstances attending the negotiations
between the United Kingdom and Ceylon, the Australian Government
is not disposed to raise any objection to the United Kingdom
Government's proceeding with the draft Agreement on external
relations and defence.

However, the Australian Government hopes that the United Kingdom
Government bearing in mind that the attainment by Ceylon of
Dominion status would be a matter of especial interest to
Australia and the other Dominions, will give very full
consideration to calling together in London, after the conclusion
of the two agreements in question but prior to Ceylon's actual
admission to membership of the Commonwealth, the representatives
of the several Dominion Governments and the representatives of the
new Ceylon Government, for the purpose of discussing their
relations with one another and with the United Kingdom Government.

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