811.3347/53
The British Ambassador (Howard) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honour to refer to your note of the 19th ultimo, in which you furnished me with an outline of the plans for the cruise of a portion of the United States fleet to Australian and New Zealand waters during the coming summer, and, in accordance with the courteous offer of the Secretary of the Navy as quoted by you, to submit, on behalf of the Australian Government, the following preliminary observations in regard to the matters dealt with in your communication under reference.
While the Commonwealth Government are fully aware of the difficulty of drawing up a programme for so large a fleet, they desire me to state that the people of Australia would greatly appreciate the inclusion in the schedule of all the provincial capitals of the Commonwealth, or as many as possible thereof, preference being decided in accordance with the size of populations of the various cities. If it should be found impossible to amend the programme to this extent, the Commonwealth Government would suggest that arrangements be made for the fleet to steam in close to the shore wherever practicable.
The Government of Australia have requested me to point out that the arrival of that portion of the fleet detailed to visit Sydney at the port in question two days before the Melbourne squadron reaches its destination is likely to prove embarrassing, as, in their opinion, it is [Page 283] most undesirable that any of the visiting warships should touch at an Australian port before the arrival of a division at the seat of the Federal Government. In view of the importance attached to this question by the Commonwealth Government, I would express the earnest hope that the interested authorities of the United States will be disposed to take action so as to ensure that disembarkation is carried out at Melbourne some hours earlier than at Sydney, more especially as the Commonwealth Government will then be in session. I am further to point out that if the suggestions contained in this paragraph are carried out, the necessary landing and reception arrangements would be greatly facilitated.
I have the honour to request that the Admiral Commanding-in-Chief be advised to conduct all correspondence relative to the reception of the fleet at Melbourne etc., through the Prime Minister’s department, as it is considered that this will avoid all overlapping and confusion.
I should be grateful to receive in due course an expression of your views upon the contents of this note, for communication to the Government of Australia.
I have [etc.]