CANBERRA

Your 389.

Your detailed report on discussions with Yoshino appreciated.

However, I am disturbed at the views which you are expressing on
the likely attitude of the Australian Government, possible
compromises and so on. I have arranged for you to be kept fully
briefed on the progress of the negotiations for your background
information and not for use in discussions with Japanese
officials. I would therefore ask you to refrain from giving your
interpretation of the Australian attitude unless specifically
requested by us to do so. In the absence of such a request your
advice should be confined to the supply of factual information.

You will appreciate that it is tactically unsound to become
involved in simultaneous negotiations in Canberra and Tokyo.

Therefore in any further approaches you should endeavour to obtain
Japanese reactions without commenting on likely Australian view.