811.24546/5: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Australia (Johnson)
51. Your 60, October 18, 11 a.m. This Government warmly appreciates the prompt action and cooperative attitude of the Australian Government.
The War Department states that arrangements relating to construction of the bases in Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and points east will be dealt with by the Commanding General, Hawaiian Department. Arrangements for the bases west of Solomon Islands will be dealt with by the Commanding General, United States Army Forces, Far East (Manila). Representatives of the Commanding General, Manila, will accordingly communicate with the appropriate Australian authorities concerning details.6
The War Department also attaches great importance to the training and familiarization of heavy bombardment personnel operating in the areas in question. To this end it would appreciate permission from the Australian Government for the use of existing airdromes such as those at Rockhampton and Darwin in Australia, Raboul in New Britain and Port Moresby, New Guinea, as well as such other existing or new airdromes as may be agreed upon. In order to use these bases for both training and tactical purposes the War Department states that it will be necessary to bring in maintenance personnel and to store spare parts, fuel and bombs at some of those places. Communications facilities will also have to be established. Please [Page 577] ascertain whether foregoing is also agreeable to the Australian Government.
Cox should reply to the Department’s 47 through you.
- The foregoing paragraph was repeated as telegram No. 4564, October 20, 1 p.m., to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom and was to be repeated as Netherlands Series No. 33 for the Minister to the Netherlands Government in Exile.↩