Cablegram 263 CANBERRA, 1 October 1948.
SECRET
Your cablegram 239 of 21St September. Japanese Trade Arrangement.
We have approved the draft text and concur in your suggestion that arrangements be made for the exchange of memoranda on the basis of the agreement as drafted. Authority to sign on behalf of Australian Government is being transmitted to Australian Mission, Tokyo. [1] We also agree with the views contained in your telegram No. 244 concerning the desirability of taking up purchases from Japan as soon as possible and arrangements have been made to issue import licences in anticipation of the exchange of memoranda giving effect to the agreement in the terms drafted in Tokyo.
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1 J.W. Eckersley, First secretary at Tokyo, signed for Australia when the arrangement was concluded on 9 November 1948.
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[AA:A1838/278, 479/1/1, iii]