The Australian Consul-General presents his compliments and has the
honour to inform the Head of the Far Eastern Office of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs that with the approval of the
Netherlands East Indies authorities the Government of Australia
proposes to send representatives of the Australian Department of
External Affairs and the Department of Education to Indonesia to
discuss the question of the provision of scholarships for Asiatic
students (both through a purely Australian scheme and through a
larger scheme regarded as coming within the U.N.E. S.C.O.). The
number of scholarships for the time being is limited to four for
the whole of Indonesia on account of present facilities in
Australia. However, fuller particulars would be discussed with the
Netherlands East Indies authorities by Mr. Macmahon Ball after his
arrival.

It is also desired that members comprising the mission discuss the
question of educational supplies which it is proposed that
Australia should make available to certain countries as part of
the U.N.E.S.C.O. reconstruction assistance as referred to in my
note 2o/1/2 dated 5th January 1948 [1] and also to discuss the
provision to Indonesia of approximately 160,000 worth of clothing
etc. supplies under the post-U.N.R.R.A. [2] relief scheme.

Approval is requested that the mission may visit Republican-
controlled territory before proceeding to other Asiatic countries
from the Netherlands East Indies.

The members of the mission are as follows:-

W. Macmahon Ball, Esqre. Department of External Affairs
D. McNichol, Esqre.

V.G. Harris, Esqre. Department of Education
It is proposed that the mission arrives in Batavia on 29th May by
a special Royal Australian Air Force aircraft manned by a crew of
six and departs on 2nd June for Singapore.

The Australian Government would be most glad to know if the
mission would be welcomed by the Netherlands East Indies
authorities.