Cablegram 12 LONDON, 7 January 1944, 1.40 p.m.
IMMEDIATE MOST SECRET
Your telegram 2nd January No. 2. [1]
We think that the United States Government must surely be aware of
the position of the Commonwealth Government in this matter as set
out in your letter of 5th July last to Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs. [2] The Communique addressed to the Portuguese
Government on the subject of Australia’s special interests and the
Portuguese reply was included in the Documents constituting the
Azores Agreement of which a copy was enclosed in my despatch D.
No. 103 of the 30th November. [3] A copy of these Documents have
been communicated to the United States Government. In the
circumstances we do not feel that the brief phrase relating to
Timor included in the latest Communique to the United States
Government regarding the proposed Staff conversations with the
Portuguese is capable of leading to any misunderstanding. We are
glad to note that you are ready to take part in Staff
conversations and will communicate further with you when we
receive the United States Government’s reply.
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1 Document 1.
2 See Documents on Australian Foreign Policy 1937-49, vol. VI,
Documents 233-4.
3 On file AA:A989, 43/730/4/1.
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[AA:A989, E43-44/970/54]
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