Cablegram 810 WASHINGTON, 1 June 1942, 6.31 a.m.
IMMEDIATE
Reciprocal Lend Lease.
(1) I was summoned to the State Department and handed a document which will be telegraphed to you in my immediately following telegram. [1] In form it is a draft exchange of notes between the Australian Minister, Washington, and the Secretary of State indicating Australian willingness to provide reciprocal aid in the widest terms; and agreeing to the inclusion of other United Nations who participate.
(2) It assumes that Australia has already signed a duplicate of the United States-United Kingdom Mutual Aid Agreement of February 23rd [2], and appears to be a standard form for all United Nations. A copy different only in name was handed to the United Kingdom representatives at about the same time. A similar copy is to be given to Mr. Nash. [3]
(3) We are given to understand that the document has been approved by the President [4] and Cordell Hull. [5] It must inevitably supersede discussions with Acheson [6], and will require consultation with United Kingdom which may not agree to the major policy involved. I saw Phillips [7] and will send comments on the foregoing when responding to your 671 [8] just received.
_
1 Document 512.
2 Australia had not signed a copy of this agreement, and the U.K.
Ambassador to the United States (Lord Halifax) had signed on behalf of the U.K. Govt only. On 3 September the Commonwealth and U.S. Govts exchanged Notes accepting the principles of the agreement of 23 February. For a discussion of this issue see S. J.
Butlin and C. B. Schedvin, War Economy 1942-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1977, ch. 5. For the texts of the Notes see Department of External Affairs, Current Notes on International Affairs, vol. 13, no. 2, Canberra, 1 September 1942, pp. 63-6.
3 N.Z. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister to the United States.
4 Franklin D. Roosevelt.
5 U.S. Secretary of State.
6 U.S. Assistant Secretary of State.
7 U.K. Treasury representative in the United States.
8 Dispatched 1 June. On file AA:A981, USA 181, i.
_
[AA:A981, USA 181, i]