756.94/104
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle) of a Conversation With the Australian Minister (Casey)
The Australian Minister came in today to see me, at his request.
He was principally interested in obtaining whatever information we might have on the general situation, with particular reference to the situation of the Dutch East Indies. I gave him a very general outline, as we saw it, indicating, among other things, that we felt that the status quo in the Dutch West Indies, as well as in the Dutch East Indies, ought to be preserved, and for that reason were not anxious to have Allied landings, except where they were definitely at the request of the Dutch authorities, under Dutch command, and carried out merely for the purpose of temporary assistance to the Dutch government. I pointed out that it would be unfortunate if it were believed that by reason of the invasion of Holland a change in the political [Page 14] status of the Netherlands East and West Indies had taken place, or was likely to take place.