847.24/89
Memorandum of Conversations, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Acheson)
I had a brief conversation with Dr. Evatt at the Canadian Legation on Thursday evening, April 16. He stated that he had been so preoccupied [Page 544] with other matters that he had had very little time to give to the matter of Lend-Lease and reciprocal aid. He said that he understood from his associates that for some reason, which was not clear to him, the British Embassy was advocating with the Australians that they record the applicability of the principles in the Master Agreement with the United Kingdom to Australia through an exchange of notes. It seemed to Dr. Evatt that the matter of form was unimportant and so far as he could see, an exchange of notes, provided it accomplished the result, was entirely adequate; however, on further thought he might wish to modify this view.
The following morning, Friday, April 17, Mr. Watt of the Australian Legation telephoned to me to inquire whether the Department’s memorandum of March 24 meant that the Department regarded any formal step such as an exchange of notes or the signing of a Master Lend-Lease Agreement as a necessary preliminary to discussion with us of the principles of reciprocal aid including the financing of the supplies and other expenses of the American forces in Australia. I replied that we did not regard any such action as a necessary preliminary step and would be glad indeed to sit down with Australian representatives at any time to discuss all the matters involved or any of the matters involved.
Mr. Watt said that he had understood this to be our position but merely wished to confirm it.