Cablegram 452 CANBERRA, 10 August 1947, 12.30 p.m.
MOST IMMEDIATE SECRET
1. Indonesian Prime Minister has accepted our proposal. [1]
2. Position is clear. Dutch have accepted American mediation.
Indonesians have virtually rejected it by requesting good offices be used to secure arbitration. Indonesians have accepted idea of joint American-Australian arbitration.
3. There is no reasonable alternative and you might consider hav[ing] case put at Washington to support your endeavours at New York. In view of Beasley’s telegram [2] and of Indonesian acceptance of our proposal there is no point in pressing idea of three parties.
4. Minister [3] wants you to be on your guard to restore the authority of the United Nations, at the same time being careful not to risk a public rebuff. The line we are adopting should achieve both objectives.
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1 See Document 268.
2 Document 269 (repeated to the Delegation as cablegram 453 on 10 August).
3 Returning from Japan aboard HMAS Hobart, Evatt did not disembark at Brisbane until 12 August. He then flew to Canberra. Chifley served as Acting Minister for External Affairs until Evatt’s return.
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[AA:A1838/274, 854/10/4, ii]