Message [1] CANBERRA, 11 June 1948

PERSONAL
Begins:

2. Press reports allege a statement made by you at the dinner
which you were good enough to give Mr. Ball suggesting that, in
front of Chinese, Malay and Indian political and community
leaders, you conveyed a warning to Mr. Ball that Australia's
recent actions had done 'irreparable harm' not only to Australia
but to an European nations with interests in South-East Asia.

3. This statement is most embarrassing to Australian Government
and I cannot believe you made statement and find it hard to
understand how the 'Free Press' could have reported any statement
made at a private dinner.

4. It is most regrettable that Mr. Ball's visit, which had
specific purpose should have [been] [2] the occasion for this
anti-Australian outburst in Singapore and Malaya. I believe it
would be most helpful to you and to us if you could close the
incident by an appropriate statement regarding the purposes of the
Mission and welcoming Australia's move in carrying out its
obligations to the United Nations and UNESCO in taking a positive
step to bring peoples of South-East Asia including Australia into
a better relationship.