701.4711/58
The British Ambassador ( Lothian ) to the Secretary of State
Sir: At the instance of His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia and under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have come to the conclusion that it is desirable that the handling of matters at Washington relating to Australia should be confided to an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary accredited to the United States Government.
Such a Minister would be accredited by His Majesty The King to the President of the United States of America, and he would be furnished with credentials which would enable him to take charge of all affairs relating to Australia. He would be the ordinary channel of communication with the United States Government on these matters. The arrangements proposed would not denote any departure from the principle of the diplomatic unity of the Empire, that is to say, the principle of consultative co-operation amongst all His Majesty’s representatives as amongst His Majesty’s Governments themselves, in matters of common concern. The methods of dealing with matters which may arise concerning more than one of His Majesty’s Governments would therefore be settled by consultation between the representatives of His Majesty’s Governments concerned.
In proposing the establishment of an Australian Legation, His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia trust that it will promote the maintenance and development of cordial relations, not only between the United States and Australia, but also between the United States and the whole British Commonwealth of Nations.
I have [etc.]