811.24546/11a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Australia (Johnson)
53. American papers have carried an Associated Press story with a Sydney date line of October 20 stating that according to reports from Canberra negotiations have been completed between the United States, Great Britain, China, the Netherlands East Indies, New Zealand, and Australia for a united Pacific front.
There is no definite indication that Australia’s agreement on the matter of Pacific air bases was the occasion for this story. The fact however that the story was apparently given out the day after the Australian Government had expressed its concurrence in our proposal has given us some slight concern here. Will you, in your discretion, call attention to this and emphasize the desirability of keeping the matter of air bases strictly confidential.