611.47H31/138
The British Ambassador ( Halifax ) to the Acting Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Acting Secretary: With reference to the Secretary’s letter of the 11th June, in which he asked me to inform the Government of New Zealand that the negotiation of a Trade Agreement between the United States and that Dominion would be the best practical manner of increasing the export of New Zealand products to the United States, I am writing to inform you, at the instance of H. M. Government in New Zealand, that they will be very glad to take part in the discussions suggested in Mr. Hull’s letter under reference.
They also ask me to inform you that the delegation under the Honourable F. Langstone, which is at present visiting the United States with a view inter alia to initiating negotiations for a Trade Agreement between the United States and New Zealand, includes Mr. J. D. P. Johnsen, an officer of the New Zealand Customs Department, [Page 125] which is normally responsible for conducting such negotiations. They hope, therefore, that the United States Government will find it convenient to arrange for discussions at an early date. They add that the preparatory work has been completed by the New Zealand representatives to enable exploratory discussions to commence.
Believe me [etc.]