Cablegram 32 CANBERRA, 7 February 1945
TOP SECRET MOST IMMEDIATE
Your telegram D.227 6th February. [1] While Australian Government recognises the practical importance of agreement with the Soviet Government regulating the general treatment of ex-prisoners of war pending their repatriation our view is that any performance of labour duties by Australian ex-prisoners whether on a voluntary and therefore partial basis or on a compulsory basis, would be quite unacceptable to public opinion here.
We assume that any arrangements you make will expressly cover the speediest possible repatriation of Australians who will be liberated.
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1 Document 25.
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[AA:A1066, IC45/6/2/1, i]