181

Department of External Affairs to Critchley

Cablegram 163 CANBERRA, 17 June 1948, 4.25 p.m.

IMMEDIATE SECRET

Our 161. [1]

Short wave radio reports today that your working paper [2] has been made public, together with the fact that Dutch have refused to consider it. Negotiations are reported to have reached standstill following Dutch refusal to continue discussions for the time being.

2.We have pointed out to our representative in New York that Security Council should study United States-Australian proposal as soon as possible in light of Dutch rejection. He has been instructed to propose at to-day’s meeting of Security Council that Council call for full text of proposal and for immediate report from Committee of Good Offices. He is also to try to ensure that Council meets again within next few days to consider latest developments. We have instructed him to keep in closest touch with United States representative.

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1 Document 179.

2 Document 173.

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[AA:A1838, 403/3/1/1, xvii]